Ireland secures top-ten finish against 600 teams from 190 countries at First Global Challenge in Panama
An Irish team featuring Indian-origin students Joel Emmanuel and Amal Rajesh achieved a historic eighth-place finish at the First Global Challenge robotics competition in Panama City, marking Ireland’s strongest performance at the event known as the “Olympics of Robotics.”
The eight-member Irish team competed against more than 600 teams from 190 countries during the competition held from October 29 to November 1, 2025. The top-ten finish represents a breakthrough achievement for Ireland in international robotics competition.
Rising STEM Stars
Joel Emmanuel, a Leaving Certificate student from Lucan, Dublin, is the son of Emmanuel Thengumpalli, Managing Director of Spice Village Restaurant & Catering Group Company, and Rita Emmanuel, a nurse manager. Joel previously won the BT Young Scientist and Technology Award, Ireland’s premier science competition for young people.
Amal Rajesh, also a Leaving Certificate student from Lucan’s Liffey Valley area, is the son of Rajesh, a computer engineer, and Betsy, a nurse manager.
Competition Framework
The First Global Challenge is an international robotics competition held annually in different countries to nurture the next generation of engineers and scientists. The event encourages youth development in STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
This year’s competition theme addressed one of the world’s 14 greatest engineering challenges, focusing on the Robotics Challenge to prepare students for the emerging robotics era. Activities aimed to build confidence and enhance skills through collective participation, including integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning with robotics.
Each team designed, built, and programmed robots to address real-world challenges, then navigated their creations through competitive rounds on the competition stage.
Community Pride
Joel and Amal expressed delight at representing Ireland alongside the country’s most talented young engineers and showcasing their abilities on the global stage. The team thanked supporters across Ireland for their encouragement.
The national team received a warm welcome upon arrival at Dublin Airport following their historic performance, with the Irish Indian-origin community particularly celebrating the achievement.
Educational Significance
The success highlights the contributions of Ireland’s diverse student population to STEM excellence and the country’s growing reputation in technology and engineering education. The performance also demonstrates strong support systems for young people pursuing advanced technical skills in Irish schools.
The First Global Challenge provides students hands-on experience with complex engineering problems, teamwork under pressure, and international collaboration—skills increasingly valued in technology-driven economies.