If ever there was any doubt that during the past few years, Indian American kids have come to virtually own the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee competition, it was erased with a vengeance on Thursday morning when of the 11 championship finalists, seven or more than 60 percent were Indian Americans, belonging to a minority population that is less than one percent of the total US population.
As many as 14 of the 41 young spelling wizards -- who made it to the semi final of the Scripps national Spelling Bee champion's trophy -- are Indian Americans, raising expectations that the top prize would yet again be bagged by one of them.
Patel, a perennial crowd favorite for the past four years, who was tippped by many veterans of the Bee to take the title this year, in his fifth and final appearance, met his waterloo in the fifth round.
This is Samir's fifth and final national spelling bee competition. He hopes to be the numero uno speller this time.
Twelve Indian American students have entered the championship rounds of the prestigious 78th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.
He had said, "I feel I've been trying my hardest for the last few years and it hasn't worked out. But life is not completely about the spelling bee and I've learned to realize that. But I will be very disappointed if I don't win."
Kunal Shah's parents were deported from the US a year ago.
In the last six years, the Spelling Bee has been claimed by Indian Americans four times, most recently by Sai Gunturi in 2003.
The winner will receive USD 50,000 in college scholarship and lifetime membership of the National Geographic Society.
A 13-year old Indian-origin boy has emerged as the winner of a spelling bee contest in the United States in an epic verbal duel that lasted a total of 95 rounds, after judges ran out of words in a previous marathon round held last month.
The India Abroad Person of the Year Awards, held at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City on Friday June 12, honored 14 achievers in seven categories.
Sri Srinivasan, the first Indian-origin federal judge in the United States, is India Abroad Person of the Year 2013
