Sylhet’s Yafi Wins Gold Medal at Innovation Competition in Malaysia
Mr. Wasiq Jahed Yafi, a youth from Sylhet, alongside his team SYT Innovators, has won the Gold Medal at one of the world’s most prestigious innovation competitions. The four-day event was held in Malaysia. The closing ceremony took place on Thursday, 24 September, at the renowned SEGi University, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, during the World Invention Competition and Exhibition (WICE) 2026. Prestigious universities and institutions from over 30 countries took part in the event.
A total of 517 teams registered for the international stage, with more than 5,000 young researchers and innovators participating across online and offline categories. Out of these, only 23 teams from Bangladesh secured the opportunity to showcase their innovative talents on this global stage. Amidst fierce competition, Yafi’s team presented their self-developed ‘AI Military Rover’ in the highly competitive IT and Robotics category.
Tears of joy welled up in the eyes of Yafi and his teammates when ‘Gold Medal goes to Mr. Wasiq Jahed Yafi – SYT Innovators, Bangladesh’ was officially announced from the main stage, a triumph born out of tireless effort, hard work, and countless sleepless nights dedicated to innovation.
The team’s next mission is set for 2-3 October 2026 in Istanbul, where they will participate in the GRIC Global Final 2026 at Yıldız Technical University, Turkey. Mr. Yafi will represent Bangladesh on a platform featuring top innovators from across six continents.
Expressing his pride, Mr. Yafi’s father, Mr. Jahed Hossain Tajin, said, ‘Yafi is no longer just my son; he belongs to all of Bangladesh. He and his team have proven that given the opportunity, our youth can lead the world.’ Seeking prayers from the nation, he added, ‘We hope he can expand his dreams even further and return home victorious from Turkey as well.’
