City's ICSE toppers speak up

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) announced the results of the Class 10 (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) and Class 12 (Indian School Certificate) examinations on Thursday. Schools affiliated with the Council performed commendably across the board, with students delivering impressive academic performances. This newspaper spoke with some of the city's top-performing students about their success and the journey behind it.

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Harsh Patel: I dedicate 4–5 hours every day to studying, driven by the goal of earning a good livelihood and contributing to my nation. Cristiano Ronaldo inspired me during the most stressful times of my academic journey. Outside of studies, I enjoy playing football and getting lost in a good book. My father, Manoj Patel, runs his own business, and my mother, Snehal Patel, is a dedicated teacher.

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Tushar Mantri: I invest 6–7 hours daily into my studies, with a clear vision of contributing meaningfully to India's growing technology sector. I am committed to becoming a better version of myself with each passing day. My parents and my teachers have been my greatest pillars of support and motivation in this success. When I'm not studying, it means I am on the football field, out cycling or at a chessboard. My father, Gajanan Mantri, is a Senior Production Executive at a pharmaceutical company and my mother, Priyanka Mantri, is a school teacher.

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Palak Maniyar: I put in 5–6 hours of focused study every day, working toward my dream to become a successful software engineer and helping advance AI development across India. My parents have been my constant source of inspiration and support. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing badminton, and experimenting in the kitchen with baking. My father Mukund Maniyar is a businessman and my mother Priti Maniyar is a teacher.