Teen Competes For Team USA At International Economics Olympiad In China
India-West News Desk
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – Shashank Madala, a rising senior at Robbinsville High School, represented the United States at the 2026 International Economics Olympiad in Shenzhen, China, as one of five students selected to compete on Team USA.
The 2026 competition brought together 52 national teams for contests in economics, finance and an International Business Case Competition, where participants analyzed real-world business challenges, built financial models and presented their recommendations before judging panels under tight deadlines.
Madala said it was the first year the US competed in person at the Olympiad and described the experience as a proud milestone. “Standing on that international stage while carrying both my New Jersey home and my Indian-American heritage remains one of the proudest moments of my life,” he said.
Team USA finished sixth in the International Business Case Competition, marking a strong debut in its first in-person appearance at the event.
Madala said preparing for the Olympiad required months of study in microeconomics and macroeconomics, along with extensive practice solving past problems and developing the ability to analyze issues under pressure.
“The competition was never only about economics. It was about representing the values I grew up with: hard work, curiosity, and giving back. These are the values my family carried with them from India to New Jersey,” he said.
Beyond academics, Madala is the founder of Lumin AI, a student-led nonprofit that provides artificial intelligence education to students in six countries. He also developed Kora, an AI application designed to help caregivers better understand the emotions and needs of children with autism.
“For me, economics and technology are two sides of the same question: how do we use limited resources to create the greatest good for the most people?” he said.
Reflecting on the international competition, Madala said the experience reinforced the importance of expanding opportunities for young people, particularly first-generation and immigrant students.
“My hope is to help change that, especially for first-generation and immigrant students who may not yet see themselves on these stages,” he said.
He encouraged students to pursue ambitious goals regardless of their background.
“Your background is not a limitation. It is your advantage. Ask big questions, seek out opportunities, and never be afraid to represent where you come from,” Madala said.
