A team of five Indian students won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, with India sharing the top position with four other countries, including China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan.
At this year’s competition, 381 students from 87 countries participated. The Indian contingent — Kanishk Jain from Pune, Shresth Suraiya from Mumbai, Riddhesh Anant Bendale from Indore, Rishit Garg from New Delhi, and Svarit Joshi from Gujarat — won gold medals, placing India among the top-performing countries at the Olympiad.
All five students were guided by Professor Anwesh Mazumdar of HBCSE-TIFR, Dr Leena Joshi, and scientific observers Professor Ananda Dasgupta of IISER Kolkata and Ms Nisha Kelkar.
The International Physics Olympiad is an annual competition where the brightest high school students from around the world, up to five from each country, are tested for their understanding of physics, analytical thinking, and problem-solving abilities through theoretical and experimental examinations.
India first participated in the competition in 1998 and has since won a total of 123 medals, including 54 gold, 55 silver, and 14 bronze medals, standing in seventh position until last year. At 155 gold medals, China leads the participating nations and has a total of 49 gold medals in the last decade, while India was awarded 23 golds during the same period.
Before participating in the Olympiad, eligible students, 19 years or younger, who have not entered a university or college degree programme selected by a rigorous national selection process undertake months of training by India’s Olympiad programme initiated in late 90s, spearheaded by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), an aided institution under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
The preparation included advanced physics lessons, laboratory work, and regular practice sessions under the guidance of experts. The achievement has been welcomed by the academic community and education experts, who said it demonstrates the potential of Indian students to compete with the best in the world.
The International Physics Olympiad provides young students with an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and build friendships across countries while promoting scientific learning and cooperation.