Five students to compete in IPhO

BANDUNG: The 33rd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is being held this year in Denpasar, Bali, and host Indonesia is sending five high school students to compete in the event against students from 71 other countries.

The five Indonesians are Peter Sanggau of SMUN 78 Jakarta, Widagdo of SMUN 1 Denpasar, Fajar of SMU Yayasan Insan Cendekia in Serpong, Evelyn of SMUN 1 Jakarta and Christoper of SMU Taruna Nusantara in Magelang, Central Java.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to open the Olympiad, which will be held in Bali from July 22 to July 29.

Five countries are participating in the even for the first time. They are Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, South Africa and Bahrain.

The coordinator for the Indonesian team, Suharlan, is optimistic his squad can earn three gold medals from the total of 16 on offer. The Indonesian students have been preparing for the event for a year.

Indonesia earned one gold medal at the 30th IPhO in Padova, Italy, in 1999.

The favorites in the competition are China, Russia, Iran, Vietnam, Taiwan and the United States. --JP