Kathmandu — Nepal has secured a bronze medal at the 29th International Astronomy Olympiad held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The medal was won by Sauryam Shrestha, a Grade 10 student at St. Xavier’s School, Godavari. The Olympiad took place from November 6 to 15, 2025.

According to Suresh Bhattarai, President of the Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO), Nepal has been participating in the International Astronomy Olympiad since 2018. The country previously won bronze medals in 2019, 2023, and 2025.

Bhattarai explained that before competing internationally, Nepal organizes the National Astronomy Olympiad, where outstanding students are selected to represent the country. The national competition was first introduced in 2014.

National Astronomy Olympiad

The National Astronomy Olympiad is an educational competition designed to identify talent at an early stage. Students who perform exceptionally well are recommended for international contests.

Since its inception in 2014, more than 3,000 students have tested their skills through the program. Many of the top performers are now studying at prestigious universities both in Nepal and abroad.

The competition targets students from Grades 8 to 12, aged 13 to 20 years. It is divided into junior and senior categories, with selection exams conducted across all seven provinces. The best students earn the opportunity to represent Nepal at the international level.