Pranita Balaji Sundar earns Silver Honour in IChC 2026 for Germany
In 2026, Pranita Balaji Sundar took part in the International Chemistry Competition, known as IChC, to test herself in a subject she genuinely enjoys. The competition gave her a chance to look beyond her regular school curriculum and work through chemistry problems that asked for more than familiar formulas.
The event had three rounds and, for her, each one helped build problem solving and logical thinking, and the use of chemistry concepts in new ways. She entered because she wanted to challenge herself academically and gain experience in an international competition.
“I decided to participate because I wanted to challenge myself academically and gain experience in an international competition.”
Pranita Balaji SundarA strong result on a global stage
In the Final Round, she scored 34 out of 40 points and placed in the top 20% of about 750 Final Round participants.
Across the full competition, she was placed in the top 3% of about 4,500 participants worldwide and received a Silver Honour. She also won the National Award for Germany and was selected as Brand Ambassador for Germany.
Learning to work through unfamiliar problems
Preparing for the different rounds taught Pranita Balaji Sundar that good problem solving is not always about knowing the answer straight away. She found that many questions needed careful analysis, clear links between chemistry ideas and a patient approach before a solution could be reached.
That experience helped her become more comfortable with unfamiliar problems and more independent in her thinking. It also strengthened her interest in exploring chemistry at a deeper level.
“This encouraged me to become more comfortable with unfamiliar problems and taught me to approach challenging questions with patience rather than giving up when the answer was not immediately clear.”
Pranita Balaji SundarShe also valued the way IChC showed her that chemistry can extend far beyond what is usually covered in lessons. The competition pushed her to apply ideas in unfamiliar situations and made the subject feel more intellectually stimulating.
The international setting added to that sense of challenge. It allowed her to compete alongside students from many different countries while building confidence in her own approach.
As Brand Ambassador for Germany, Pranita Balaji Sundar now has the chance to share her experience and encourage more students to take part in IChC. She wants to help others in Germany see chemistry as something they can actively explore, not only study for exams.
Her route shows that academic competitions can open doors to deeper learning and greater confidence.
