ALLEN Students Win Four of India’s Five Gold Medals at International Physics Olympiad 2026
Mumbai: India secured the top position among 87 participating countries at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2026) after all five members of the Indian team won gold medals at the competition held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from July 4 to 12.
Of the five gold medals won by India, four were secured by students of ALLEN Career Institute. The medal-winning ALLEN classroom students are Kanishk Jain, Riddhesh Bendale, Rishit Garg, and Swarit Joshi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian team on social media platform X, praising the students for their outstanding achievement and appreciating the enthusiasm of India’s youth towards science.
Commenting on the achievement, Nitin Kukreja, CEO of ALLEN Career Institute, said the performance reflects the institute’s continued success in international Olympiads. He noted that ALLEN students have so far won 188 medals, including 90 gold medals, across various official international Olympiads.
The selection process for the International Physics Olympiad was conducted in four stages. The National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP), conducted by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), served as the first stage, with 138 ALLEN students qualifying for the next round.
In the second stage, the Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO), organised by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), 20 ALLEN students advanced to the third stage.
Following the Orientation-cum-Selection Camp (OCSC), a five-member Indian team was selected to represent the country at the International Physics Olympiad, with four members from ALLEN.
The 56th International Physics Olympiad featured 381 participants from 87 countries, where the Indian team won five gold medals, placing India at the top of the overall standings.
Among the medal winners, Kanishk Jain, a Class 12 student, secured All India Rank (AIR) 8 in JEE Advanced 2026 and has been selected for admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He said the academic support received at ALLEN Kota helped him prepare for the competition and that interacting with students from different countries was a valuable experience.
Riddhesh Anant Bendale, also a Class 12 student, secured AIR 18 in JEE Advanced 2026 and will pursue B.Tech in Computer Science at IIT Bombay. He said participating in the Olympiad provided valuable learning opportunities and expressed pride in representing India.
Rishit Garg, who secured AIR 109 in JEE Advanced 2026, will pursue B.Tech in Computer Science at IIT Delhi. He credited his preparation at ALLEN Kota for helping him perform well in competitive examinations.
Swarit Joshi, a Class 11 student, is preparing for JEE Advanced 2027. He said beginning preparation at the right stage plays an important role in achieving strong results.
The achievement marks India’s successful performance at one of the world’s leading international science competitions and highlights the country’s continued presence in global academic Olympiads.
