‘Lucky geniuses’ aim high

AL Noor International School pupils Shivaani Jeyenthan and Kazi Zarif have been marked ‘lucky geniuses’ by their school principal after coming out top in one of the kingdom’s toughest brain-storming competitions, writes May Al Mousawi.

It’s the frst time the school has won the annual Mothercare Inter-School Quiz Contest since it was launched nine years ago.

After a shaky start Shivaani, 11, and Kazi, 13, beat last year’s winners The Indian School, leaving them in second place with St Christopher’s School not far behind, and they have been encouraged to continue to use their logical thinking skills to help pass examinations and pick up scholarly prizes.

Sri Lankan-born Shivaani, from Mahooz, explained: “We were so nervous and then they asked us the hardest question right from the start. The question was; dessert – it comes from a French word, what does that word mean?

“It was pretty scary. We were allowed two guesses and got them wrong both times. It means ‘to clear the table’, at least now we know!

“But we were ahead before the end. We scored the most points in the audio and video round because I love music and Kazi loves TV. It was fun and I really enjoyed it.

“We answered the last question correctly thanks to Kazi who quickly answered: ‘Who is Richard Parker in the Life of Pi?’ without even thinking about it. The answer was ‘the tiger’.”
Kazi, however, reckoned the hardest question was about the Twelve Bens, a mountain range of sharp-peaked quartzite ranges located northeast of Roundstone in Connemara in the west of Ireland. He choked, but was happy when none of the other teams were able to describe it either.

Bangladeshi-born Kazi, from Adliya, said: “We both decided to work on specialist felds to cover more information, but we were not expecting that question. I focused on science and geography, my two favourite subjects and Shivaani did all the sports and current affairs.

“I made sure I was ready for the quiz beforehand by checking out current affairs every day and fnding out what was going on in the world.”

This was the second time Kazi had taken part in the contest and it was his last chance to show the school how hard he had been trying to beat his brother, Shafn, 15, who had taken part for the previous two years.

He said: “Although I can’t take part next year, I’m happy to be part of the winning team and making a mark … it’s something to be proud of. My brother tried out twice and didn’t win, so I’m glad I beat him!

“Shafn actually encouraged me to take part. When I was in Grade 7 and he was in Grade 8 we both competed and I wanted to show him I could win, unfortunately neither of us did … but I can tease him now!

“I would love to get the academic excellence award, which is to be the top of my grade. There are three girls ahead of me but I’m still trying to make my way up and this win has encouraged me.”

His mum Suraiya, the former principal of the Bangladesh School and current head of science in Al Rawabi School, has used her teaching experience to help her children prepare for the contest.

Kazi eventually wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, Kazi Ziaur, who works as mechanical engineer at Saudi Aramco.

Shivaani is on a winning streak having come in frst place in the school’s Spelling Bee Test and picking up a certifcate in the school’s Brain Blossom Quiz. She hopes to become a palaeontologist or cardiologist. Her mum, Marina, has always been supportive and sets quizzes for her to enjoy at home with sister Khrishmi, eight. Delighted dad, Jeyentha, an engineer for Gulf Air, has helped capture her imagination with physics.

She said: “My parents are really happy. The first thing my mum did when I won the competition was call my grandparents in Sri Lanka.

“Now I need to study well and get the academic excellence award, I’ve never won it and have been trying for it every year.”

Both the students won a laptop, a digital camera, two gift vouchers, an LED TV, $100 and an MP4 player.

More than 130 teams represented nine schools around Bahrain in the quiz which was organised by AMICOS (Association of Mar Ivanios College Old Students) and managed by Synergy Middle East. Andrew Scolt was the Quiz Master, from Derek O’Brien & Associates.

After a preliminary round at St Christopher’s School, the final competition took place in the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Diamond Jubilee Hall at the beginning of February where each team, which consists of two students -one aged 13 or under and another aged 14 or under - competed for the winning prizes worth BD2,000 and the AMICOS rolling trophy.

Principal Dr Deepa Talwar said: “It’s been a moment of pride for the school because it is the frst time we have won it. It is a very challenging contest, just one question can swing it in either direction but the children worked extremely hard and are lucky geniuses. We are very happy for both of them.”