Robotics:
Is It a Sport?
Rethinking Sport in the Age of Robotics
Every robotics match begins with a countdown. Months of designing, building, and practising come down to a few minutes on the field — strategy, teamwork, pressure, and one small mistake that can change everything.
With a Foreword by Geet Sethi
Padma Shri, Khel Ratna & Arjuna Awardee, Five-time World Professional Billiards Champion
by Sai Pranav Gandhi · ISBN: 978-93-344-8570-7
Table of Contents
Explore how robotics competitions compare with traditional sports across 11 thought-provoking chapters.
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Meet the Author
A young innovator's journey from curious beginner to international robotics competitor and MIT award winner
Sai Pranav Gandhi
STEM & Robotics Enthusiast
Sai Pranav Gandhi is a Grade 10 student at Sharada Mandir School, Miramar, Goa, who has made remarkable achievements in robotics and STEM education at a young age.
His journey began with a simple fascination for Doraemon's gadgets, which led to his first encounter with LEGO robotics during a family vacation to Malaysia. This spark ignited a passion that would take him to international competitions and prestigious institutions.
From building his first MindCuber robot to winning at MIT and representing India at international robotics competitions, Sai has demonstrated that age is no barrier to innovation and excellence.
Beyond competitions, Sai is passionate about building STEM communities andinspiring the next generation of young innovators through his writing, speaking, and mentoring activities.
Key Achievements
MIT AI & Education Summit
20243rd Prize Winner for 'AllergyAlly' AI-powered mobile app
International MakeX Competition
2022Runner-up (Silver Medal) at Bangkok International Invitational
FIRST Global Challenge Singapore
2023Safety Award, Gold (Helping Hand), Silver (Fundraising), Social Media Award
Bebras Computational Thinking
2024National Champion with perfect score among 40,000+ participants
Current Involvement
Team R-Factor 6024 - Active FRC team member contributing to Computer Vision and known as "Prof. Sai"
empowerED Initiative - Transcontinental student initiative launched after MIT summit
Harvard TECH Program - Completed intensive technology and entrepreneurship course
The Journey
From first robotics competition to international recognition - a timeline of growth, challenges, and achievements in STEM and robotics education
World Robot Olympiad (WRO) debut
Theme: Food Matters (Waste Sorting). Learned critical lessons on sensor calibration and PID for line following.
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) "Into Orbit"
Innovation Project: Soil-less germination (tissue paper/cocopeat). Inclusion workshop for ~40 children; won Inspirational Team Award.
MIT App Inventor Hackathon finalist
Built "Prevention > Cure (P>C)" wellness app during the pandemic; promoted daily mindfulness, fitness, and brain games.
VOX (civic engagement app) – People's Choice at MIT Appathon
Hyperlocal platform for ideas/complaints, voting, and tracking actions with authorities.
MakeX "Zero Carbon" success (India + International)
National Champion (India) and Silver Medal (Runner-up) at the Bangkok International Invitational; notable "Plants Research" task strategy.
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) "Power Play"
First FTC season: large-team build, alliance strategy; learned CAD (Fusion 360), 3D printing custom parts (e.g., cone grabber), and advanced Java/Blocks programming.
FIRST Global Challenge (FGC), Singapore: Hydrogen Horizons
Selected via trebuchet (27 m launch) challenge; reached semifinals and won Safety Award, Gold (Helping Hand), Silver (Fundraising), and Social Media Award; major outreach/fundraising movement in Goa.
Bebras India Computational Thinking Challenge
National Champion with a perfect score (100%) among 40,000+ participants.
MIT AI + Education Summit (MIT, USA)
Presented "AllergyAlly" (AI-powered allergy assistant); won 3rd prize in poster presentation; visited MIT Media Lab; launched the transcontinental "empowerED" student initiative.
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) "REEFSCAPE" with Team R-Factor 6024
Currently participating in the most advanced level of FIRST robotics competitions with team-based robot design and programming.