Mumbai boy bags silver at Astronomy Olympiad in Bulgaria

Two other students representing India, from Hyderabad and Indore, won silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Mumbai boy, Prashant Gokhale, 15, has bagged a silver medal at the 21st International Astronomy Olympiad held in Bulgaria.

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Two other students representing India, from Hyderabad and Indore, won silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, announced the winners on Friday.

Close to 16 countries participated in the Olympiad held between October 4 and 13. Students faced three gruelling rounds that tested their theoretical, observational and practical skills in astronomy.

“India was one of the four countries from where all the participants won a medal,” said Madan Gopal, who accompanied the students. They were trained in two camps — orientation and pre-departure, early this year. All were students from Classes 9 and 10.

Gokhale, who is a student of RN Podar School, Santacruz, said, “I was confident of emerging in the top three. I developed an interest in astronomy through various softwares that help us view the skies.”

Wajid Shaik Mulinti from Sri Chaitanya IPL Olympiad School, Hyderabad, also won a silver medal. “I was surprised with the win. I found the observation round a bit tough, questions were tricky,” said Wajid.

Harshit Khandelwal from Bhavans Prominent International School, Indore, said that he plans to pursue a career in astronomy. “I got interested in the subject at a young age. If not astronomy, I will study physics,” he said.