Hyderabad|India|July'2010: When most of the kids in their age group don’t like Mathematics subject, four kids from Andhra Pradesh win trophies at an international abacus and mental arithmetic competition and bring laurels to the state.

Chirag Rupani (11 years), student of Class 7, Neeraj Public School, Hyderabad; Pranav Bang, (13), student of Class 9, DPS School, Vijayawada; Praveek Trivedi (9), student of Class 5, from a school in Hyderabad and the youngest of them all Eight years old A.K. Slakshnu, student of Class 4, Aditya Public School (Srinagar), Kakinada, Four winners from Andhra Pradesh (out of the total five from India) viz. participated at the just concluded 10th International Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition at Manila, Philippines and won trophies and laurels for the state competing with kids from 16 countries like Indonesia, Philippines, UAE, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Canada, Thailand, USA, Cambodia, Tanzania, Oman, Nigeria, South Africa, etc.

A.K. Slakshnu and Chirag Rupani competed in Grand Master C-Level and emerged as runners up. Slakshnu is the youngest of all to compete in Grand Master C-Level and win a trophy in an international tournament. Pranav Bang and Praveek Trivedi competed in 8th Level and won runner up trophies. These both kids have shown consistent performance in the National and International Competitions for the past couple of years. For A.K. Slakshnu, this is the first international tournament. Unperturbed by hundred plus best of the brainy children competing, Slakshnu proved his mettle and received accolades from the participants.

Impressed by his spell bound performance, Mr. Kelvin Tham, Founder of SIP Academy and International Brain Gym Instructor, invited Slakshnu to give performance in front of participants and their parents. And he took everybody by surprise with his amazing performance.

Andhra Pradesh kids reached Manila on 2nd July, one day prior to the competition. Enroute Manila they had a stopover at Bangkok . The journey was tiring and hectic. Our kids had very little time for acclimatisation. But, nevertheless, they performed very well. Competition was cut throat. Our children received tough fighting from Indonesian kids, who are very fast in mental arithmetic. But, living up to the expectation that Indians are good at Mathematics, our kids outperformed them informed Mr. J. Sampath Kumar, Area Partner of SIP Academy in Andhra Pradesh.

The eight member delegation which travelled to Mania returned to city.

It was expensive for three of us to travel. But, given Slakshnu’s talent, me and my husband somehow managed to travel with him to give that extra personal comfort. So as to enable him to give his best. You know Slakshnu is the youngest participant to compete in Grand Master C-Level. He is also by far the youngest to have completed Grand Master C-Level Certification in India . I am happy Slakshnu boldly faced the competition. He was comfortable. He showed lot of confidence, which helped him better his performance, informed Mrs. Kranti, Slakshnu’s mother.

I am happy to have participated in the competition. My parents told me not to worry about trophies and winning medals. Participation is very important they told. I went to Manila because this is an opportunity for me to fly. I didn’t like the food. I did Para Gliding, under sea water walking in Thailand . I like it very much informed Slakshnu.

“It was a great opportunity to showcase children their mental capabilities and mental prowess. My son Pranav has been showing consistent performance. He participated in International competitions held earlier in Dubai and elsewhere and emerged victorious. I have travelled with my child to see him performing in front so many best of the best brainy kids from across 16 countries, informed Mrs. Sunaina, mother of Pranav Bang.

Chirag Rupani travelled alone without his parents. It gave him an opportunity to be independent on his own. Undeterred by the fact that he is alone and he had to compete with some of the best children in the world, he planned well performed beyond expectation.

Prateek Trivedi travelled with four of his family members directly to Manila . He has been participating in many National and International Competitions. He has done amazingly well and constantly improving his performance, informed Prateek’s father.

SIP Abacus and Brain Gym is the internationally proven supplementary educational program that promotes the mental advancement, character formation and creative expression vital in the integrated development of multiple-intelligent individuals. The program nurtures the mental, social, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of kids.

SIP Academy in Andhra Pradesh has been providing internationally acclaimed child development program Abacus and Brain Gym aimed at equipping children aged 4-12 with the skills required to succeed in a rapidly changing and competitive global arena.

SIP Academy is the Indian arm of SIP Academy SDN BHD, Malaysia , a company which imparts lifetime skills development programs for children, combining the best from the Far East and the West (U.S.) i.e. the twin offering of the Abacus and Brain Gym.

SIP functions in 18 countries with over 2000 centers and 4,70,000 students worldwide. SIP India has 500 centres across 20 states in India training 1,25,000 kids. These states include Delhi , Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarachal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry , Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan , Assam , Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal . In Andhra Pradesh it has 65 centres in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Kakinada , Zaheerabad, Ghatkesar, Vikarabad, Shankar Pally, Thirupathi, Vijayawada , Narsarao Pet and Vishakapatnam.

-July'' 2010