Indian scientist from Chandrayaan-2 team wins UK's toughest TV quiz

London: Sourajit Debnath, a computational science graduate from Kolkata who previously worked on India's Chandrayaan-2 mission, has emerged victorious as part of the Imperial College London quiz team in the renowned 'University Challenge' TV quiz tournament in the UK.

The team, which included Debnath, clinched the champion's trophy in the final round of the tournament, known for its challenging questions and intellectual rigor. Debnath's contributions during the final were instrumental in securing the victory for the team.

"I feel elated to be a part of British quizzing history and grateful that our team had the opportunity to clinch the title while representing Imperial," said Debnath, expressing his joy at the team's accomplishment.

Hosted by British Indian presenter Amol Rajan, the final episode aired on BBC, marking Imperial College London's fifth win in the show's history, with the last victory occurring in 2022.

Amol Rajan lauded Imperial's victory as "remarkable," underscoring the team's outstanding performance throughout the tournament.

The team received the prestigious 'University Challenge' trophy from Amol Rajan and acclaimed playwright Sir Tom Stoppard at an event held at Imperial College London's South Kensington Campus.

Imperial's Provost Professor Ian Walmsley commended the team's diverse knowledge and disciplined approach to the quiz, emphasizing their historic achievement as the most successful team in the history of the program.

Reflecting on their preparation for the tournament, team captain Suraiya Haddad highlighted the dedication and hard work put in by each member, despite juggling academic commitments.

Imperial's success in this year's tournament was attributed to the team's well-rounded expertise in various subjects, ranging from classical sculpture to mathematics.

Debnath, who holds a Master's in Applied Computational Science and Engineering from Imperial College London, transitioned to a career in computational science following his stint at the U R Rao Space Centre, where he contributed to India's Chandrayaan-2 mission.

Imperial College London attributed its success in the 'University Challenge' tournament to the mentorship provided by previous contestants, who guide current participants in their preparation for the competition. The university's mentoring program plays a crucial role in honing the contestants' skills and knowledge base, ensuring their readiness for the challenging quiz format.