City girl shines at intl Abacus competition

City-based Muskaan Shivani bagged the first runner-up position at the 9th International Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition held at the Chennai Trade Centre in Chennai recently.

Along with eight-year-old Shivani,Mohammad Modak (7),also from the city,attempted 40 sums in three minutes in the level one below eight years category. Shivani and Modak are students of the Brain Gym Learning Centre,SIP Academys branch in the city,said a press note.

Over 3,000 children from 10 countries contributed creatively in the event. The competition was tough. The participants were challenged to attempt 100 sums in three minutes on the Abacus and visually. Relentless practice and determination saw every participant in a race against time,requiring split-second thinking while being accurate, said Clifford Paul of the Brain Gym Learning Centre.

Shivani had won the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Championship 2008 and the Regional Championship held earlier this year. Instructors at the Brain Gym Learning Centre,Wanowrie

Munira Dalal and Yasmin Kushonwal said the Abacus can transform children and remove phobia of numbers.

The Abacus is a specialty tool that sharpens concentration while developing a childs learning ability. It simplifies mathematics. Regular work on the Abacus is essential for brain conditioning, said Kushonwala.

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