Monday, June 15, 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

    2,000 endangered bustards released in Kazakhstan

    2,000 endangered bustards released in Kazakhstan
    Following the initiative of United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 2,000 captive-bred Asian Houbara, an endangered bustard, have been released in Kazakhstan.

    2,000 endangered bustards released in Kazakhstan

    Cameron to discuss mango ban with new Indian PM

    Cameron to discuss mango ban with new Indian PM
    British Prime Minister David Cameron Wednesday said that he is "looking forward" to discussing the recent European Union (EU) ban on Indian mango imports with the country's new prime minister, a media report said.

    Cameron to discuss mango ban with new Indian PM

    Monica Lewinsky on Clinton Affair: 'Time To Burn The Beret And Bury The Blue Dress'

    Monica Lewinsky on Clinton Affair: 'Time To Burn The Beret And Bury The Blue Dress'
    Breaking her silence over the scandalous affair in the 1990s with Clinton - which led to the then president's impeachment by US Congress - with an unmistakable reference to the dress stained by presidential indiscretion, she also says: "I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton."

    Monica Lewinsky on Clinton Affair: 'Time To Burn The Beret And Bury The Blue Dress'

    Russia rejects Geneva talks, denies US concerns

    Russia rejects Geneva talks, denies US concerns
    Russia Tuesday ruled out holding a fresh round of talks in Geneva for defusing the Ukraine crisis and refuted the US military's concerns that the activity of long-range warplanes over the Pacific is linked to Ukraine.

    Russia rejects Geneva talks, denies US concerns

    Armed forces uniform for Halloween party lands Indian in trouble

    Armed forces uniform for Halloween party lands Indian in trouble
    An Indian man was fined 2000 dirhams (about $545) by a Dubai court after being spotted in a UAE armed forces officer's dress that he wore to a Halloween party, a report said.

    Armed forces uniform for Halloween party lands Indian in trouble

    South Africa calls for abducted Nigerian girls' release

    South Africa calls for abducted Nigerian girls' release
    The South African government Tuesday appealed to the global community, the African Union (AU) and the Nigerian government to do whatever they can for the release of over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram, a Nigerian radical group.

    South Africa calls for abducted Nigerian girls' release