MALACCA: Eleven-year-old Ng Anna promised to never rest on her laurels despite winning the primary school category of the state-level RHB New Straits Times National Spell-It-Right (SIR) Challenge 2015, at the Mahkota Parade shopping mall here, today.
The girl of SK Convent Infant Jesus (2) won the first place against her schoolmate who bagged third placing, Kyra Elizabeth Carvalho, 12, while Adam Hakimi Mohd Shahril Izuan, 10, was named the first runner-up, when she successfully spelt the word 'bolshy' correctly in the tiebreaker round.
"To be honest, I have no idea what ‘bolshy' meant. I just took a guess and I was happy that luck is on my side," said Anna, who walked away with RM2,000 in cash.
"I am very happy to emerge winner today as last year, I walked away from the competition empty-handedly.
“Right now, I am feeling very nervous for the next round of the national-level SIR competition and I vow to start making preparation now, hoping to win the national challenge this October," she said.
Adam Hakimi of SK Jasin secured the second spot against Kyra in the fourth tiebreaker round, when he spelt the word 'soporific' correctly.
Joining the SIR competition the second time this year, Adam Hakimi was determined to make it into the final rounds after weeks of preparation prior to the competition day as he did not make it to the top ten placing last year.
"I read a lot of books and with the RM1,500 money I win today, I will buy more books to expand my knowledge and be more accurate with my spelling," said the lad, who aspires to be an engineer.
Kyra who walked away with RM1,000 was happy to settle in the third placing as she was not well-prepared for the competition.
"I did not pay much attention into preparing for my spelling competition as I was juggling my time with the other poetry and choral speaking competition, as well as preparing for the UPSR examination.
"I am happy that my last-minute preparation paid off, with my mother giving me a list of words to spell one week before the competition and I also borrowed dictionaries from friends while waiting for my turn just now," said the lass, who aspires to be a veterinarian.
Anndrea Phua Wern Ya, 11, of SJK (C) Keh Seng took home RM800 for finishing fourth, while Aaron Ng Haw Chen, 12 of SK St Francis bagged RM500 for securing the fifth spot. Five consolation winners received RM100 each.
They received the prizes from RHB Bank Berhad Merdeka Permai branch manager Vivian Guee and The New Straits Times Press Berhad Melaka branch manager Saiful Temu.