Andisha Safari wins Afghanistan’s first national GQMC award

Reported by Julia Berens · October 1, 2026 · 2 min read

Andisha Safari of Afghanistan earned a result in GQMC in 2026, finishing with 22 points and a Bronze Honour. Among about 4,500 participants, they placed in the top 5 percent and won the 1st National Award for Afghanistan. It was a result that carried academic weight, but also a wider meaning for someone who found the competition while searching for international opportunities in mathematics and physics.

At first, they did not expect the experience to become so important. They were curious about how they would perform against students from different countries, and that curiosity became the starting point for a challenge that tested both knowledge and persistence.

Preparation built through steady work

Safari prepared mostly alone. They spent long hours solving problems and getting stuck, then returned to the basics and tried again. The work was not only about finding the right answer, but about understanding why a method worked. That patient approach shaped the way they approached the competition and gave the result a strong foundation.

Late study sessions were part of that process as well, driven by a real wish to understand the subject more deeply. The account suggests a learner who kept returning to difficult ideas rather than moving on too quickly, and that discipline proved valuable when the final results were announced.

When those results came in, the outcome was clear. Safari received 22 points, a Bronze Honour and a place among the top performers in a large international field. The 1st National Award for Afghanistan added another layer to the achievement and made the result stand out even more.

For Safari, the recognition was closely tied to identity. Seeing Afghanistan mentioned alongside the result made the achievement feel larger than a score or a certificate. It was a reminder that limited access does not remove the possibility of taking part, learning and competing on an international stage.

A wider view of what the result meant

GQMC did not alter their life overnight, but it did change how they see what is possible. The experience strengthened their confidence and pointed them further towards quantum physics and astrophysics, as well as mathematics and research. It also encouraged them to keep looking beyond the opportunities immediately around them, which is often where progress begins for students working with limited routes.