Dubai whiz-kid wins accolades in London

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Dubai - 11-year-old Sundaresh bags prizes in four categories at the Mind Sports Olympiad.

Muaz Shabandri

Published: Sun 20 Sep 2015, 9:56 PM

Last updated: Mon 21 Sep 2015, 8:50 AM

A 11-year-old maths-whiz from Dubai has made his school proud?by winning laurels at the Mind Sports Olympiad hosted in London.?
Sundaresh Sundaragopal, a Grade 7 student at Our Own High School, Dubai, won accolades in four categories at the competition held from August 23 to 31.?

Achievements > Gold medal in junior World Mental Calculation Championship
> Gold medal in junior World Mental Blitz Calculation Championship
> Silver medal in junior Chess Rapid Olympiad
> Bronze medal in the World Mental Blitz Calculation Championship (open category)

Sundaresh, who has won several international competitions, told Khaleej Times: "I learned a lot of new things and met people from different walks of life. Some of the world champions at the competition in London shared?tricks and tips, which have been helpful."
Vying for honour as world champions in 60 different board games, contestants from 29 countries have participated in the competition, which bills itself as 'an Olympics for the mind'.
"I want to be a space scientist one day. I live life with a belief?that anything is possible and it is just a question of right strategy. All of us have the capacity to succeed," the whiz-kid added.?
Sundaresh's father, Krishna Moorthy said: "He is planning to participate in more competitions and creating world records.
"For the last six months he has been?practising maths problems and everyday he spends more than an hour solving different problems." Sundaresh's father said that his son's journey to stardom started with a phone call from a teacher.
"When he was in Grade three, I received a call from his teacher, who said Sundaresh has the ability to calculate sums mentally. When other students use?pencil and paper to calculate, he would do it in his mind," Krishna Moorthy said. Since winning his first competition in Germany last year, Sundaresh?hasn't looked back and he is spending more time in developing his skills.
"We are proud of?his achievement. This is all because of his hard work and dedication.
"His teachers have also been supportive and without their help this wouldn't be possible," Moorthy added.
- muaz@khaleejtimes.com
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