The competition brought together 381 talented students from 87 countries. The Indian team stood out with its perfect record, exemplifying exceptional knowledge and problem-solving skills in one of the world’s toughest science competitions for school students.
The five Indian students who won gold medals are Kanishk Jain from Pune, Riddhesh Anant Bendale from Indore, Rishit Garg from Dwarka, Shresth Suraiya from Mumbai and Svarit Joshi from Ahmedabad.
For the competition, the students were trained and guided by Professor Anwesh Mazumdar of HBCSE-TIFR, Dr Leena Joshi and scientific observers Professor Ananda Dasgupta of IISER Kolkata and Nisha Kelkar. Their guidance and hard work played an important role in the team’s success.
India’s Golden Sweep at the 56th International Physics Olympiad 2026 held at Bucaramanga, Colombia
????All five Indian students win Gold Medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026
????India secures the World No. 1 rank jointly with other countries, Outstanding… pic.twitter.com/9aDkqVM8tC
— PIB India (@PIB_India) July 12, 2026
Doctor Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, DAE & Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, congratulated the medal winners, saying, “This phenomenal achievement by our young physicists is a matter of immense pride for the nation. Securing five Gold Medals and jointly attaining the World No. 1 rank at the International Physics Olympiad is a testament to the talent, dedication and scientific temperament of our students, as well as the unwavering commitment of the HBCSE-TIFR Olympiad programme.”
“I congratulate the students, their parents, teachers, and mentors for this remarkable accomplishment. Their success inspires countless young minds to pursue excellence in science and reinforces India’s growing leadership in scientific education and innovation.”
Before travelling to Colombia for the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026, the students spent several months preparing for the tough competition.
Their training included physics classes, laboratory experiments and regular practice sessions under the guidance of experienced experts.
