All 5 Indian Students Win Gold at IPhO 2026, India Secures Joint First Rank

The performance of India in the 56th edition of the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 was commendable as all the five members of the team managed to win gold medals. This placed the India in a tie for first position along with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan at one of the world’s most prestigious science competitions for school kids. The Olympiad was held in the Bucaramanga, Colombia, where 381 students from 87 countries competed in various sub-disciplines of physics. This showcases the India’s increasing standing in terms of quality of education in science and training for Olympiads.

India’s First Place in International Physics Olympiad 2026

As per the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), India has emerged as one of the best nations in the event with each team member winning a gold medal.

Key Points

• Event: 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026
• Location: Bucaramanga, Colombia
• Number of Participating Nations: 87
• Total Participants: 381
• India’s Result: 5 Gold Medals
• Ranking: 1st Position (Jointly)
• Countries Sharing First Position Along with the India: China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan

This results shows the India’s performance and consistency in international science olympiads.

Introducing The Five Gold Medalists

The five Indian pupils who have brought the gold medals to the country are,

Student	City	State
Kanishk Jain	Pune	Maharashtra
Riddhesh Anant Bendale	Indore	Madhya Pradesh
Rishit Garg	Dwarka	Delhi
Shresth Suraiya	Mumbai	Maharashtra
Svarit Joshi	Ahmedabad	Gujarat

Their remarkable achievements in the theoretical and practical physics resulted in India’s exceptional victory.

India’s Regular Achievement in the International Physics Olympiad

The International Physics Olympiad is seen as one of the most prominent international contests for secondary school students who are interested in physics.

According to the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education,

• 2026 will be the India’s 27th participation in the International Physics Olympiad.
• In the last 10 years, every Indian participant has returned with the gold or a silver medal.
• The 2026 event also continues India’s extreme record of success in the international arena.

The continuous success indicates that the India has got a huge talent pool and good preparation for the Olympiad.

How the Indian Team Got Ready

Before going to abroad as representatives of India, the selected candidates were taught with the help of the Physics Olympiad Cell of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education.

The preparatory program consisted of the,

• Orientation camps
• Theoretical physics training
• The laboratory sessions
• Training camps before taking off
• Help from experienced tutors

The extensive course prepares the participants with the required knowledge and practical skills.

Team Leaders and Scientific Observers

The Indian delegation was led by the eminent scholars and scientists.

Team Leaders,

• Prof. Anwesh Mazumdar – HBCSE, TIFR;
• Dr. Leena Joshi – St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Scientific Observers,

• Prof. Ananda Dasgupta – IISER Kolkata;
• Ms. Nisha Kelkar – Gogate-Joglekar College.

Team members has received the guidance which had contributed towards their success.

What Is the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)?

The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is a yearly contest held for the highly skilled high school students who are particularly talented in the field of physics.

Competitors solve problems that include,

• Complicated theoretical problems
• Laboratory experiments
• Analytical problems

The Olympiad works towards to enhance scientific development and cooperation in the scientific community.