TechnoXian 2025 silver trailblazers: How Orchids young technocrats raced to global glory

Curiosity, precision, and persistence, that’s what powered 7th graders Dhruv Khatri and Soham Tanveer, from Orchids The International School’s Nigdi campus, to win a silver medal at the ‘TechnoXian World Cup 9.0: World’s Biggest Robotics Championship’ held in Noida. Competing against participants from over ten countries, the duo showcased their technical skill and problem-solving abilities in the Junior Line Follower category - a challenge that demands engineering accuracy, coding logic, and nerves of steel. Their journey is a story of sharp problem-solving, steady teamwork, and the determination to push boundaries in the fast-evolving world of robotics. Excerpts from Dhriv Khatri and Soham Tanveer’s exclusive conversation with The Orchids Blog, along with their mentor Rasika Dande.    

Turning curiosity into competition

Dhruv and Soham’s fascination with robotics began in their school lab, where small circuits often led to big ideas. “We learned how to make simple line followers in Grade 6, but for TechnoXian, we wanted to take it a step further,” said Soham. Over two months of rigorous training, they focused on sensor precision, motor tuning, and chassis balance, ensuring their bot could stay perfectly aligned even on sharp curves.

Their efforts paid off and their line follower completed the track in just 19 seconds, securing them the second spot globally. “Our next goal is to hit 10 seconds,” said Dhruv, his eyes already set on the next challenge.

Mentorship that fuels innovation

Behind their success stood their mentor, Rasika Dange, whose guidance bridged theory with practice. “At this age, it’s not just about coding or assembling parts,” she shared. “It’s about learning how to think, test, and troubleshoot - skills that define real engineers.” Under her mentorship, the students learned to refine their design with PID tuning, weight optimization, and improved RPM efficiency, transforming a classroom project into a competition-ready prototype.

Lessons from a global arena

Representing India on an international platform gave Dhruv and Soham a broader perspective on engineering creativity. “Teams from other countries had incredibly compact, customized bots,” recalled Soham. “We realized how much difference design makes, not just coding.” Rasika added, “Seeing global participants in action helps our students push boundaries; they learn not only how to build but how to innovate.”

Beyond the medals

For the young innovators, TechnoXian wasn’t just a competition - it was an experience that taught them focus, resilience, and the art of staying calm under pressure. “If something goes wrong, you can’t panic. You just find what’s off and fix it,” said Dhruv. The students also highlighted how the event deepened their understanding of robotics as a practical science, with real-world applications in automation, logistics, and even medicine.

Gearing up for the next challenge

With their silver victory now a stepping stone, Dhruv and Soham are already planning their next upgrade - adding more sensors, customizing motor drivers, and experimenting with grip materials for smoother navigation. They also hope to represent their school in competitions abroad, in countries like Estonia or Japan, where robotics education thrives on innovation.

A spark for future engineers

Reflecting on their journey, Rasika expressed immense pride. “They’ve learned that success isn’t about perfection - it’s about persistence. Each failure taught them how to improve,” she said. For Dhruv and Soham, the silver medal may shine bright, but it’s their mindset of constant learning that truly makes them winners, young engineers who see every challenge as a chance to build something better.