NEET 2020 Topper: Soyeb Aftab secures perfect NEET score

BHUBANESWAR: Soyeb Aftab from Rourkela in Odisha has secured a perfect score (720 out of total 720 marks) in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-2020 and became the All India topper. Results of this entrance test was published by national testing agency (NTA) on Friday.
He created history by getting this perfect score in NEET (720 marks out of 720).He is also the first person from Odisha to accomplish this feat by getting AIR 1 rank in NEET. He was preparing for the examination at Kota in Rajasthan.
Aftab, who belongs to Azad Mohalla under Plant Site police station in Rourkela, has completed his class X from a Rourkela school before moving to Kota with his mother Sultana Rijia. "I had secured 96.8 per cent and 95.8 per cent in Class X and Class XI examinations respectively. After Class X, I had told my father about medical coaching in Kota. He had agreed to send me for coaching," said Aftab.
His father Sheikh Mohammad Abbas was initially doing tea business. After loss, he entered into construction business. "Because of the new work, my father had managed to support my education and coaching in Kota. My mother stayed with me since April 2018. I completed my Class XII in Kota along with preparation for NEET," he added.
Aftab said physics is his favourite subject. He was focusing on biology subject more to get good marks. "Teachers of my coaching institution have helped me a lot. Initially I was not doing well in study, but later I did improve my understanding of subjects with the help of teachers. They were clearing my doubts about different topics. I stayed at Kota during lockdown instead of returning Rourkela," he added.
He wants to become a cardiologist in future. "I am interested to do MBBS in AIIMS Delhi. I will focus on research in medical sector along with practice. I am so happy after getting perfect score and becoming the all India topper," he added.
Aftab's mother said they belong to a middle class family. "My husband is not a big businessman and worked hard to fund education of our son in Kota. He was staying alone in Rourkela and we were in Kota. I never allowed any negativity to touch my son. I always motivated him to do well and go ahead in future. I came to Kota to stay with him so that he will feel secure and can concentrate in studies," she added.
Priyanka Sahu secured all India rank 2 in PwD category (female). Aneemesh Giri also got AIR 2 in PwD (male) category.
A total 33,945 out of 38,494 registered candidates from Odisha had appeared for the NEET 2020 on September 13. Only 20,654 of them have qualified in the entrance test conducted at 83 examination centres in Odisha for admission to the undergraduate medical courses in medical institutions.