Hyderabad student Sandeep Kuchi wins gold as India tops International Chemistry Olympiad

Sandeep Kuchi from Hyderabad, Telangana, won a gold medal at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from July 10 to 19, 2026. Kuchi was part of the four-member Indian student team that secured joint Rank 1 globally, marking India's best-ever performance in its 27 participations at the prestigious science competition.

The Indian team achieved a clean sweep with all four of its members winning gold medals. This stellar performance placed India at the top of the leaderboard, sharing joint Rank 1 with China, Vietnam, and an individual participant from Russia. The competition in Tashkent was one of the largest editions of the Olympiad, featuring 363 students representing 93 countries.

Alongside Hyderabad's Sandeep Kuchi, the gold-medal-winning Indian team included Debadatta Priyadarshi from Bhubaneswar, Odisha; Harshit Singhal from Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab; and Kabeer Chhillar from Delhi.

India's participation in the international event was coordinated by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE). The student delegation was guided by Head Mentor Prof. Subhajit Bandyopadhyay from IISER Kolkata and Mentor Dr. Indrani Das Sen from HBCSE. The team also received guidance from Scientific Observers Dr. Anubendu Adhikary of IIT Kharagpur and Dr. Jayasree Gopalakrishnan from NES Ratnam College in Mumbai.

Following the historic win, the HBCSE congratulated the students and their mentors for the achievement. The institution expressed gratitude to the National Steering Committee on Science Olympiads, teachers, and members of the Chemistry Olympiad Cell for their support during the preparation process.

The HBCSE also acknowledged the critical support provided by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Ministry of Education (MoE) in facilitating the team's journey and preparation.