SEPANG, Aug 25 ― Six Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students created history when robots invented by them emerged champions at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Robocon 2016 in Bangkok on Sunday.

The feats at the Huamark Stadium against the strongest teams from China ended a 14-year wait by UTM to win in the competition that was introduced in 2002.

Team manager Dr Mohd Ridzuan Ahmad said it was the best gift for Malaysia which will be celebrating its 59th Independence anniversary on August 31.

He was speaking to reporters after the team's arrival from Bangkok at KLIA here today.

Seventeen teams from 16 countries competed in the most prestigious robocon in Asia.

Lim Wen Jin, 22, a mechanical engineering student who spoke on behalf of the students, said each team had to build an eco robot and hybrid robot that had to do a variety of tasks.

The other members of the team were Kevin Lau, Chai Kim Hung, Low Kah Seng, Chik Wen Xin and Muhammad Khairul Baihaki Mohd Jafry, all aged 21. ― Bernama