OXON HILL, MD. – A 12-year-old from Flushing, Queens advanced Wednesday in the Scripps National Spelling Bee – but don’t call her a walking dictionary.
Unlike many spelling champs who memorize thousands of obscure words, Sai Vishudhi Chandrasekhar, a seventh grader at Hunter College High School in Manhattan, said she focuses on “the roots and patterns, so I can use it for more than one word.”
“I try to not memorize. I don’t in think it’s a productive way to study,” she said. “I have a really short attention span. I don’t think I can memorize a dictionary.”
Her methods worked Wednesday when she spelled “halal,” food allowed under Islamic dietary laws, and “fossiliferous,” which describes an object containg fossils.
The results made her one of 46 contestants, all 14 or younger, who will compete Thursday on ESPN for the national title.
Another spelling whiz from New York City, Anil Singh, 11, of South Ozone Park, Queens, nailed “roodebok,” an African gazelle, and “toque,” a narrow-brimmed hat.
But he fell short on a computer-based spelling test that was used to reduce the field.
Anil and Sai made it to the nationals by winning the annual Daily News Spelling Bee, which was co-sponsored by the Municipal Credit Union, Medieval Times and P.C. Richard & Son.
Wednesday’s comptetition featured 281 spellers from around the nation and world.
Sai was eliminated on the first day of last year’s nationals, but she “prepared more this year,” she said.
“I was a little nervous,” Sai said. “But I knew I studied, and I did my best. I wasn’t like hyperventilating.”
Anil said he was “disappointed” but hopes to fair better next year.
Both hope to follow in the footsteps of Arvind Mahankali, another youngster from Queens who won last year’s competition.
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