The 18-year-old said the exam delay was the toughest challenge of his journey, but his family’s support kept him motivated, with his mother encouraging him never to give up.
The postponement of the NEET exam became a turning point for Sankalp Sandeep Naik, who admitted he lost interest and even thought of walking away. But his family stood firmly behind him — his mother refused to let him give up, his father supported him throughout, and his brother gave up their shared room each night so Sankalp could prepare without distractions.
Months later, the Ascentria student and JSS Private School Dubai pupil achieved the top rank among overseas candidates who appeared for NEET-UG 2026.
With 650 marks out of 720, Sankalp achieved an AIR of 1,398 and ranked first in the “Outside India” category in the NTA’s state-wise toppers list, with a percentile score of 99.9253.
The Dubai student described the NEET postponement as the toughest phase of his journey, saying it affected his motivation and made him think of giving up. However, the support of his mother, father, and brother helped him stay focused and continue his preparation.
Dubai student Sankalp Sandeep Naik, who emerged as the highest-ranked NEET-UG candidate from centres outside India. Photo: Supplied
Sankalp said he enrolled at Dubai-based coaching institute Ascentria in Class 12. Initially, his primary focus was on preparing for his CBSE board examinations, but he shifted his attention entirely to NEET during the final months leading up to the entrance test.
“I prepared seriously for about five months,” he said. “The regular assessments and guidance from the institute helped me improve consistently.”
He admitted that his early performance in NEET practice tests was not strong as he was balancing board exam preparation at the time. “Initially, I was not performing well in NEET tests because my focus was on my boards. But once I started concentrating only on NEET towards the end, the improvement became visible,” he said.
Alka Malik, founder of Ascentria, credited Sankalp’s achievement to his dedication, along with the support of his teachers and family.
“We are extremely proud of Sankalp and all our students for their commitment, perseverance, and pursuit of excellence. Their success reflects their hard work, backed by the dedication of our faculty and the confidence placed in us by our parents’ community,” she said.
Behind Sankalp’s success was also the sacrifice and encouragement of his family. During his preparation period, his brother gave up their shared bedroom every night and moved to the living room to ensure Sankalp had a quiet environment to study.
“My brother had to sleep in the hall because I usually studied late at night and needed a peaceful space,” Sankalp said.
Sankalp’s father also took leave from work on several occasions to be by his son’s side during the crucial months leading up to the examination. “Overall, my family supported me immensely,” he said.
The preparation journey required several personal sacrifices. Sankalp gave up regular cricket academy sessions as his studies became more demanding, though he continued playing occasionally for his school team.
He also missed important family moments, including his own 18th birthday. “My birthday was three days before the originally scheduled NEET exam. I spent that day studying,” he recalled.
Looking back at his NEET journey, Sankalp said the day he completed the exam was the moment he would most like to experience again. “That was the day I knew the pressure was finally over. I could take a break from daily studying and enjoy myself again,” he said.
Although he felt positive after the exam, the wait for results still brought some anxiety. “There is always some fear at the back of your mind, but my parents constantly supported me, which gave me confidence,” he said.
Reflecting on what people often overlook behind a top rank, Sankalp said the biggest challenge was adapting to a disciplined lifestyle. “People only see the marks and the rank, but they don’t see the sacrifices behind it. Moving from enjoying your free time to studying six or seven hours every day is a major change. Once you adjust and get into a routine, it becomes easier,” he said.
For future NEET aspirants, he stressed the importance of repeated revision rather than simply covering more content. “What matters is not how much you study, but how many times you revise it. Studying one chapter five times is better than studying five chapters only once,” he advised.
Sankalp, whose father is an engineer, said becoming a neurosurgeon has been his childhood ambition. “I have always wanted to become a neurosurgeon. It has been my only goal in life,” he said.
He will now complete his admission process before returning to Dubai in August. His first choice is All India Institute of Medical Sciences Nagpur, where he hopes to begin his journey towards becoming a neurosurgeon.
