JEDDAH: Saudi students won three awards at the 53rd International Physics Olympiad held in Japan from July 9-18. The Kingdom was represented by King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba. The competition featured 387 students from 82 countries. The Saudi team included a group of five male and female students. The students underwent thousands of hours of intensive internal and external training, guided by specialists from both the Kingdom and abroad. The Saudi winners, two males and one female, included Jeddah high school student Hussein Qadah, who secured a bronze medal. His achievement marked the culmination of his journey under Mawhiba, which included 2,550 hours of training. Mazen Al-Shakhs, from Al-Ahsa, earned a bronze medal. He dedicated significant time to preparation and underwent 2,150 hours of training. The third winner, Rose Al-Sindi, a high school student from Makkah, was recognized with a certificate of appreciation. She also had an extensive training journey of 1,850 hours. Amal Al-Hazaa, Mawhiba’s general director, highlighted the strong backing the organization has received from Yousef Al-Benyan, the Saudi minister of education. This support extends to Mawhiba’s efforts in nurturing gifted male and female students from general education in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hazaa said that this year’s triumph is a testament to the “strong and comprehensive alliance” formed between Mawhiba and its collaborators, which also includes King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Together, the students and specialists have worked to attain remarkable accomplishments, secure international accolades, and fulfill the ambitious initiatives and goals set forth in the Saudi Vision 2030, he added. The Kingdom now has 42 Olympiad prizes, including medals and certificates of appreciation.