The Tribune

BAHAMAS national Spelling Bee champion Prachi Kondapuram narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington last week.

Prachi, an 11-year-old student at Queen’s College, spelt all of her words correctly but fell short of the 28 points needed to qualify by just two points to leave the competition after the written test.

Prachi was expected to be ranked around 50th out of the 281 champions, a commendable effort for a first-time competitor amongst the youngest in the event.

Dharmaveer Kondapuram was proud of his daughter’s performance in reaching the final stages from an original pool of 11 million students across the globe. On his Facebook page Mr Kondapuram wrote: “Prachi has accomplished a lot!! She opened a new door for us, leading us on to a new odyssey, learning and teaching at the same time. She bounced back from last night’s disappointment and is her usual self by this morning, asking us probing questions and finding the answers. She will come back next year, seeking and gaining knowledge, breaking the barriers, conquering the frontiers and making our lives infinitely worthwhile to live around her.... thank you all our dear friends for your love and support ... thank you The Bahamas!!”

For the first time in the event’s 52 years two spellers were declared co-champions – Sriram Hathwar of Painted Post, New York, and Ansun Sujoe of Fort Worth, Texas. They shared the title after a riveting final-round duel in which they nearly exhausted the 25 designated championship words. After they spelled a dozen words correctly in a row, they both were named champions.

Before returning to the Bahamas on Saturday Prachi and members of The Bahamas’ delegation paid a courtesy call on Dr Eugene Newry, Ambassador to the United States, at the Bahamas Embassy in Washington.

Pictured from left to right are: Veronica Roberts, Queen’s College librarian; Serethea Clarke, Acting Deputy Director of Education, Department of Education; Nicola McKay, Principal, CR Walker Senior High School; Joyelle McIntosh, Prachi’s spelling coach at Queen’s College; Rochelle Cox-Hill, Chairperson of the Bahamas National Spelling Bee Organising Committee, Department of Education; Remelda Been, Senior Mistress, Hugh W Campbell Primary; Ambassador Newry; Dr Dharmaveer T Kondapuram, Prachi’s father; Prachi; David Butler, father of Donovan Butler, first runner-up in the Bahamas National Bee; Donovan; Patronella Rolle, Assistant Director of Education, Student Services Section, Department of Education; Eula Gaitor, Chief Training Officer, Student Services, Department of Education; and Franquel Hagan, second runner-up in the Bahamas National Bee.