Kota 7th October 2026: Allen students have won a gold and a silver medal at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2026. Allen classroom student Arnav Sehrawat won the gold medal, and Harshil Patel won the silver medal.
Congratulating the students, Vinod Kumawat, President of Allen Career Institute, Kota, said that with this achievement, Allen students have once again brought glory to India at the international level. The IOAA finals were held in Hanoi, Vietnam, between September 25 and October 5, and teams from 64 countries participated in it. India’s five-member team won four gold and one silver medal. Allen student Arnav Sehrawat won the gold medal, and Harshil Patel won the silver medal.
So far in 2026, Allen students have won 15 medals in various official Olympiads. These include 11 gold and 4 silver medals. These include 4 gold medals at the International Physics Olympiad, 3 gold medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad, 1 Gold and 1 silver medal at the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad, 3 gold and 2 silver medals at the Earth Science Olympiad, and 1 silver medal at the International Biology Olympiad.
On winning the gold medal, Arnav Sehrawat said, “It is a proud moment for me to win a gold medal for the country. I learned a lot by participating in the competition with students from different countries. The guidance of the faculty at Allen and regular practice strengthened my preparation. This achievement will motivate me to pursue further advancements in the field of science.”
On winning the silver medal, Harshil Patel said, “It was a rewarding experience competing at the international level.” During my preparation for the Olympiad, I had the opportunity to solve difficult questions, which boosted my confidence. The guidance of the faculty at Allen, the excellent study environment, and regular practice helped me immensely. I aspire to become an IITian in the future, and this achievement will motivate me to work harder.
IOAA: International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics
IOAA is conducted in four stages. In the first stage, the National Standard Examination in Astronomy (NSEA), 143 Allen students were selected for the second stage. In the second stage, the Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO), 23 Allen students were selected for the third stage. After the third stage, the Orientation cum Selection Camp in Astronomy (OCSC), a five-member Indian team was selected to represent India. The fourth and final stage, the 19th IOAA 2026, was held in Hanoi, Vietnam.