HBCSE Physics Olympiad Coach Vinayak Katdare Dies Before Students Win Gold

Professor Vinayak S. Katdare, the national coach for India’s Physics Olympiad team, passed away following a cardiac arrest on June 27, 2026, shortly before the five students he trained at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) in Mumbai achieved a historic all-gold sweep in Colombia.

The sudden demise of Professor Katdare occurred just days after he conducted his final training session with the students. On June 23, 2026, Professor Katdare was at the HBCSE Physics Olympiad Laboratory in Mumbai, where he was seen discussing the students' experimental scripts and offering final guidance. This session turned out to be their last interaction before the team competed on the global stage.

Following his mentorship, all five of the Indian physics students went on to bag gold medals at the International Physics Olympiad held in Colombia. This marked a historic all-gold triumph for India, a dream that Professor Katdare had spent years preparing the country's brightest physics students to achieve.

Hours before his sudden death on June 27, Professor Katdare had conducted the final session with the five students he had trained, unaware that it would be his last interaction with them. His colleagues and kin have since shed light on his vital role in shaping young minds and guiding them toward international success.

The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) in Mumbai served as the training ground where Professor Katdare spent years preparing students to shine at the International Physics Olympiad. Although the national coach was not present to witness the historic achievement, his final guidance on June 23 helped secure the flawless sweep of gold medals by the Indian team.