15-year-old boy bags silver at Astronomy Olympiad in Bulgaria

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

MUMBAI: 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 it held between October 4 and 13.

Students faced three 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.

Harshit Khandelwal from Bhavans Prominent International School, Indore won bronze.