Ghatkopar child to represent India internationally in puzzle-solving competition

Intensive training and confidence in his abilities enabled 13-year-old Mohammed Ali to defeat the other 35,000 students from all over India and represent India internationally in a Ken Ken puzzle tournament.

A native of Andhra Pradesh, Mohammed stays in Ghatkopar and studies in Pant Nagar Municipal English School number 3. After winning the national level Ken Ken puzzle competition held at Bhandup on March 7, Mohammed was selected to represent India in an international Ken Ken puzzle competition to be held on March 31 in New York. Pranita Sankhe, one of Mohammed’s teachers, said that Ali won in a competition which saw the participation of around 50 schools.

Speaking with iamin, another teacher at Pant Nagar Municipal English School, Meena Adha, said, “Ken Ken members taught us the process of solving the puzzle, after which we downloaded the application and trained the students.”

Mohammed added that his teachers would often give him printouts of puzzles which he would then solve at home. This constant practice transformed his initial nervousness into confidence.

Dayashankar Shukla, principal of the school, gave the credit of success of Mohammed’s to the boy himself and his teachers. “Mohammed’s talent should be supported. Despite belonging to an underprivileged family and having no access to many opportunities, he outdid all other competitors,” Shukla said.

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