India has delivered an impressive performance at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in Hanoi, Vietnam, with all five members of its team returning with medals. The competition, held from September 25 to October 5, saw India win four gold medals and one silver.
Pranjal Dixit from Hyderabad, Sumant Gupta from Delhi, Akshat Srivastava from Gurugram and Arnav Sehrawat from Faridabad secured gold, while Harshil Amitkumar Patel from Vadodara won silver. Every Indian participant made the podium, giving the team a 100 per cent medal record.
🇮🇳 India shines at #IOAA2026 in Hanoi, Vietnam! 🌟 All 5 students win medals: 4 GOLD + 1 SILVER 🥇 Pranjal Dixit – Hyderabad 🥇 Sumant Gupta – Delhi 🥇 Akshat Srivastava – Gurugram 🥇 Arnav Sehrawat – Faridabad 🥈 Harshil Amitkumar Patel – Vadodara Congratulations, Team India! https://t.co/ptcDubPLew
— HBCSE (@HBCSE_TIFR) October 4, 2026
India Joins Vietnam in Third Place
India finished joint third in the overall medal standings with host country Vietnam. Iran and South Korea topped the table with five gold medals each. The result is particularly significant given the scale of this year's event: the 19th IOAA was the biggest edition so far, with 307 students representing 64 countries.
Team Mentors and Test Format
The students were accompanied by Professor Bhaswati Mookerjea of TIFR, Mumbai, and Professor Sanved Kolekar of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru. Professor Aniket Sule of HBCSE-TIFR, who currently serves as president of IOAA, was also present.
The Olympiad tested more than theoretical knowledge. Half of the assessment was based on theory, while observation and data analysis each made up 25 per cent. Participants had to apply their understanding of astronomy to observations and scientific data, making the contest a test of both knowledge and practical problem-solving.
A Strong Year for Indian Olympiad Teams
According to HBCSE, every Indian participant across the International Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Astronomy won either gold or silver this year. Of the 24 students who competed across these five subjects, 16 won gold and eight took silver.
India's Long Record in Astronomy
Since India began participating in Astronomy Olympiads in 1999, 49 per cent of its participants have won gold, 35 per cent have earned silver and 13 per cent bronze. In the last five years, every Indian participant has won either gold or silver, continuing the country's strong run in international astronomy and astrophysics.