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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Indian-American, 4 Others, In US Physics Team Earn Gold Medals At The 2025 International Physics Olympiad T he U.S. Physics Team, represented by the five traveling members, including Indian Ameri- can Agastya Goel, competed with student scholars from 85 nations at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held July 17–25 at PALAISEAU, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France. The five Gold Medal winners of the 2025 US Phys- ics Team are: Agastya Goel Allen Li JoshuaWang Feodor Yevtushenko Brian Zhang Each of these teammembers from the US, earned a Gold Medal, and the US Team is the only Country- team to achieve five Gold Medals, noted the Ameri- can Association of Physics Teachers, AAPT, based in Maryland, in a July 25 press release. The coaches for the 2025 U.S. Physics Team are Academic Director, Tengiz Bibilashvili; Coaches, Kellan Colburn, Natalie LeBaron, Rishab Parthasara- thy, and Elena Yudovina; and Junior Coach, Evan Erickson. The 2025 International Physics Olympiad reflected the theme “Physics Beyond Frontiers.” “AAPT proudly congratulates these young physicists and their coaches for this outstanding representation of the United States as ambassadors of curiosity, of rigor, and of discovery on the global stage,” AAPT said in the press release. The Closing Ceremony is available on YouTube and contains information about additional awards and prizes presented. The U.S. Physics Team is sponsored by private donors, the American Institute for Physics and the numerous member societies of the American Institute of Physics. Goel is from Palo Alto, California. A student of Gunn High School with a diploma in mathematics and computer science, who also describes himself as a “Singer/Actor” on Linkedin, says, “I love think- ing about computer science and physics and finding ways to apply them to my everyday life. I also enjoy performing through choir and theater, as well as playing tennis and board games.” This is not Goel’s first Gold Medal. He also won the Gold Medal as the US Physics TeamMember in 2024, as well as the Gold Medal at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in 2023 and 2024. His teacher Harold Polo, posted the following on- line when Goel won the IOI Gold Medal a year ago – “I am thrilled to announce that Agastya Goel, one of my MIT PRIMES students, has achieved a remark- able feat by winning a gold medal at the 35th Inter- national Olympiad in Informatics, which was hosted this year in Hungary. Agastya’s achievement is a testament to his talent and perseverance, and it inspires us all to reach for the stars in the pursuit of knowledge and excellence. I applaud Agastya for this outstanding accom- plishment and wish him continued success on his journey.” He was attending the Stanford Online High School from August 2020 to May 2025, according to his bio on Linkedin. He has been an Eagle Scout, and a member of the Palo Alto Children’s Theater since 2017 to the present. He gave a Ted talk in 2022 on “Adventures in Data”. By a StaffWriter From News Dispatches PHOTO:CourtesyAmerican Association of PhysicsTeachers,AAPT US Physics Team for International Physics Olympiad 2025, poses for a photo. From left, Feodor Yevtushenko, Brian Zhang, Joshua Wang, Allen Li, and Agastya Goel. India’s Divya Deshmukh Becomes 3rd Women’s World Cup Champion In Chess N ineteen year-old Divya Deshmukh, Inter- national Master from Nagpur, Maharashtra, became the 3rd chess champion, defeating Grandmaster Humpy Koneru, July 28, 2025, at theWomen’sWorld Cup, held in Batumi, Georgia. The 2025 FIDEWomen’sWorld Cup ran from July 6 to July 28, bringing 107 of the world’s best female chess players from 46 different federations, including 17 of the current top twenty, a press release from FIDE said. From seasoned players to emerging talents, all fought for the $50,000 first prize. FIDE noted that Deshmukh follows in the footsteps of GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2021) and GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2023) as the third-ever winner of this pres- tigious title. “In the two 15+10 rapid tiebreak games, Divya showed both resilience and composure. After missing a golden opportunity in the first game, which ended in a draw, she brought elite-level precision to the second. There, she equalised comfortably as Black, then seized control as Humpy slipped under time pressure—clinching the crown in emphatic fashion,” FIDE reported. “With this remarkable win, Divya Deshmukh is now not only the 2025Women’sWorld Cup Champion, but also one of the most exciting young stars in the world of chess,” FIDE said. Hugging her mother after the tournament, Deshmukh is quoted saying, “It’s hard for me to speak now. Of course, this definitely means a lot, but there is a lot more to achieve, so I am hoping that this is just the start.” Accolades poured in from admirers praising her vic- tory, from India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to vari- ous chess fraternities and former and current winners, male and female, in the chess world. “It’s been a phenomenal day for Indian Chess!” PM Modi noted on X. Divya’s “accomplishment will motivate many people and contribute to chess becoming even more popular among the youth.” The Indian Parliament also praised the young woman Grandmaster for her ac- complishment. Indian Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan told ANI, “… it’s a very proud moment both for Divya as an individual and also for us as a nation.” Upon her return to India July 30, Deshmukh was given a rousing welcome by her family and other admirers at Nagpur Airport, ANI reported. Queried by media, Deshmukh said she was very happy to see so many people welcoming here, adding, “I want to give credit to my sister, my whole family, and my first coach, Rahul Joshi,” ANI reported. PHOTOS:Anna Shtourman,CourtesyFIDE.com Divya Deshmukh poses with her trophy at the concluding gala of the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, July 28, 2025. The top 4 players at the FIDE Women’s World Cup in chess, held in Batumi, Georgia, were presented their prizes at the closing gala July 28, 2025. They included, from left: 4th Place – Lei Tingjie (China); 3rd Place – Tan Zhongyi (China); 2nd Place – Humpy Koneru (India); 1st Place – Divya Deshmukh (India). Community News India Times (August 2, 2025 - August 8, 2025) August 8, 2025 7