Ngo Quy Dang from the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi University of Science under the Vietnam National University scored 36 out of 42 to finish behind three Chinese students. But the score was enough to fetch him a gold medal.

Dang is the first ever 10th grader to represent Vietnam in the international math contest.

The other gold medal winner was Truong Tuan Nghia, a 11th grader from the same school. Vietnam also won one silver and two bronze medals and a merit, the organizers announced Sunday.

The contestants’ combined score placed Vietnam in 17th place out of 105 countries and territories taking part in the competition hosted by Russia.

Due to travel restrictions due to Covid-19, the 61st edition was held online.

The Vietnamese took the tests on September 21 and 22 at the University of Science in Hanoi and were monitored on closed-circuit cameras and supervised by the Russian embassy.

Vietnam has been taking part in the math Olympiad since 1974. Last year it won two golds and four silvers.