While all eyes are once again set on Texas-based Indian American star speller Samir Patel, ten other Indian American kids are ready to prove their mettle in the semi finals of the 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee championship.

286 spellers took part in the competition on Wednesday. The 11 Indian American spellers were among the 59 who qualified for the semi finals after a multiple-choice written round and three oral spelling rounds. One of them will be crowned champion on Thursday.

Samir, 13, a voracious reader whose favourite subject is mathematics, has participated in the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 national finals. He tied for 3rd place in 2003, 27th place in 2004, 2nd place in 2006 and 14th in 2006.

This is Samir's fifth and final national spelling bee competition. He hopes to be the numero uno speller this time.

Irrespective of his standings, Samir has always charmed Americans because of his confidence and charisma. Since he started participating in the competition in his early years, home-schooled Samir is the only speller in this year's field to participate for the fifth time.

He was only 8 when he appeared on the spelling bee scene. He will not be eligible next year as he is completing eighth grade, after which spellers are not allowed to compete.

Winner or not, Samir is so popular amongst spellers that the bee's director asked him to speak at the opening assembly on Tuesday night. He has literally grown up before the eyes of Americans, who see him every year on this day, more confident, a little taller and a bit mature but wittier. Although an all-rounder, Samir spends more time with spelling, especially when the competition comes closer.

"I am trying to scrounge every possible minute to study spelling," he says.

The first round comprised of oral spelling and a 25-word written test that had tongue twisters like syssarcosis, ylem and Bewusstseinslage. The spellers qualified to compete in the national competition by winning locally-sponsored spelling bees in their home communities.

The competition, being held in the Independence Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Washington, is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E W Scripps Company in Cincinnati and 280 local sponsors.