Class 12 student Sanjana Philo Chacko, hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, secured a silver medal at the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2026 in Bordeaux, France. Sanjana, known for her excellence in mathematics, was part of the four-member Indian team chosen through a rigorous national selection process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged her achievement during a recent episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’, praising India’s performance at the global event.
Sanjana expressed her pride and motivation following the Prime Minister’s recognition, emphasizing the significance for her and other aspiring students. She detailed the challenging selection process for the Olympiad, involving various levels of mathematical proficiency assessments. Sanjana highlighted the stages, starting with the Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM), followed by the Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO) and the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO).
Sanjana shed light on the intense training camp that only a few top-performing girls from the INMO qualify for, where they receive advanced coaching and rigorous evaluations. From this camp, the top four students are chosen to represent India at the EGMO. The European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad serves as a prestigious global platform encouraging young women to pursue higher levels of mathematics, with participants worldwide engaging in challenging problem-solving tests requiring analytical thinking and creativity.
Sanjana, making her fourth appearance at the international competition, has consistently demonstrated her dedication and passion for mathematics. Her success not only serves as an inspiration for young students, especially girls, but also advocates for increased participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
