Saturday, June 13, 2026
ADVT 
International

Four Indian-Origin Kids Enter Australian Spelling Bee Final

IANS, 27 Jul, 2015 12:03 PM
    our Indian-origin children, including a pair of twins, are among 50 kids who have reached the finals of the Great Australian Spelling Bee contest, media reported on Monday.
     
    Scheduled to be aired on Channel 10 from August 3, the Great Australian Spelling Bee contest chose the finalists from over 3,000 children across Australia.
     
    "These kids are the brightest in their schools, classes and States," The West Australian quoted show host Grant Denyer as saying.
     
    Anirudh Kathirvel, twins Harpita and Harpith and Tej - all passed the three stages to reach the finals.
     
    In the first stage, the participants appeared for three online tests -- spelling, grammar and comprehension. The second stage included a Skype interview and spelling test.
     
    In the third stage, the students were tested on the bases of a live audition and spelling test.
     
    The students said they did not take any special training for the competition.
     
    Harpita's favourite word to spell was Cafune, a word of Brazilian Portuguese origin which means act of running fingers through a loved one's hair.
     
    Harpith's favourite word was 'Floccinaucinihilipilification'; one of the longest words in the English language it means the action or habit of estimating something as worthless.
     
    The Great Australian Spelling Bee witnesses children aged from eight to 13 compete in a series of word-related games and challenges.
     
    To advance, each speller must display a combination of speed, skill and smartness to deconstruct words they may never have heard before, let alone spelt.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    S. Korea: North Korea fires 3 short-range projectiles into the sea as pope visits rival Seoul

    S. Korea: North Korea fires 3 short-range projectiles into the sea as pope visits rival Seoul
    North Korea fired three short-range projectiles into the sea less than an hour before Pope Francis arrived Thursday for the first papal visit to South Korea in 25 years...

    S. Korea: North Korea fires 3 short-range projectiles into the sea as pope visits rival Seoul

    UK police search singer Cliff Richard's house in connection with sexual allegations

    UK police search singer Cliff Richard's house in connection with sexual allegations
    British police said Thursday they are searching a house believed to belong to veteran singer Cliff Richard in connection with sexual allegations dating back to the 1980s....

    UK police search singer Cliff Richard's house in connection with sexual allegations

    In status-conscious South Korea, Pope Francis turns heads with compact local car

    In status-conscious South Korea, Pope Francis turns heads with compact local car
    After his arrival Thursday, the pope left the airport in a compact black Kia that many South Koreans would consider too humble a conveyance for a globally powerful figure...

    In status-conscious South Korea, Pope Francis turns heads with compact local car

    Washington police ask citizen journalists to not help bad guys get away from crime scenes

    Washington police ask citizen journalists to not help bad guys get away from crime scenes
    Police in Washington state are asking the public to stop tweeting during shootings and manhunts to avoid accidentally telling the bad guys what officers are doing...

    Washington police ask citizen journalists to not help bad guys get away from crime scenes

    Average US rate on 30-year mortgage slips to 4.12 per cent; rate on 15-year loan 3.24 per cent

    Average US rate on 30-year mortgage slips to 4.12 per cent; rate on 15-year loan 3.24 per cent
    Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday the nationwide average for a 30-year loan slipped to 4.12 per cent from 4.14 per cent last week. The average for a...

    Average US rate on 30-year mortgage slips to 4.12 per cent; rate on 15-year loan 3.24 per cent

    Antarctic ice melt may accelerate sea level rise

    Antarctic ice melt may accelerate sea level rise
    The ice discharge from Antarctica could become the largest contributor to sea level rise much sooner than previously thought, says a study....

    Antarctic ice melt may accelerate sea level rise