Giridih, July 28: Shitikanth, this year’s IIT-JEE topper from Jharkhand, has made his state and country proud by bagging gold at the 39th International Physics Olympiad in Vietnam.

The official website of the competition, http://ipho2008.hnue.edu.vn, declared the result today. A five-member team represented India in the Olympiad being held in Hanoi from July 17. Based on physics theoretical and practical examinations, the competition drew 390 participants from 82 countries.

Along with Shitikanth, three other Indian boys — Nishant Totla, Garvit Juniwal and Kunal Shah — also bagged golds. Among them Shitikanth stood far ahead. Another member of the Indian team, Saurabh Goyal, bagged silver in the competition.

“More than the achievement of topping IIT-JEE entrance, he was keen to bring in a gold medal for the country as it would prove his mettle at international level. In IIT entrance, he scored 470 out of 489, among the highest scores in the annals of IIT joint entrance examinations,” said Dr Arun Burnawal, a resident of Dumri in Giridih.

Shitikanth would come back to India tomorrow when the contest ends. On July 30, he would be felicitated for his achievement at Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education in Mumbai. Shitikanth could not be contacted as the olympiad’s participants aren’t allowed to carry mobiles.