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India Ties for Top Rank at International Chemistry Olympiad 2026, All Four Students Win Gold

Published on: 19 Jul 2026, 07:00 AM

India has once again demonstrated its strength in science education at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026. All four members of the Indian team won gold medals, securing a joint first-place rank alongside China, Vietnam, and an individual participant from Russia. This marks India's best-ever performance in the competition.

The 58th IChO was held from July 10 to 19 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. A total of 363 students from 93 countries participated, making it one of the largest editions of the annual event.

According to the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), which coordinates India's participation in international science olympiads, this was India's 27th appearance at the IChO. The previous best was a joint second place in 2023.

The four gold medal-winning students are Debadatta Priyadarshi from Bhubaneswar, Odisha; Harshit Singhal from Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab; Kabeer Chhillar from Delhi; and Sandeep Kuchi from Hyderabad, Telangana. The team was led by Head Mentor Prof. Subhajit Bandyopadhyay from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata and Mentor Dr. Indrani Das Sen from HBCSE. Scientific observers Dr. Anubendu Adhikary from IIT Kharagpur and Dr. Jayasree Gopalakrishnan from NES Ratnam College, Mumbai, supported the team.

In a statement on social media, HBCSE congratulated the students and mentors. The institute thanked the National Steering Committee on Science Olympiads, teachers, mentors, and members of the Chemistry Olympiad Cell for their support. It also acknowledged contributions from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

India's performance at the International Chemistry Olympiad adds to its growing success in global science competitions, reflecting the talent and hard work of young Indian students on the world stage. The achievement is expected to inspire more students to pursue careers in science and research.

Source: NDTV

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