The 15th Indian National Open Memory Championship 2024 marks a new chapter for Memory Sport in India
On 20 October 2024, Hyderabad witnessed a remarkable gathering of memory athletes, students, professionals, senior citizens and enthusiasts as the 15th Indian National Open Memory Championship 2024 brought together participants from across India and beyond.
What began as an ambitious effort to expand the reach of Memory Sport turned into a championship that brought together 180 participants from 3 countries, 14 states and 60 towns and cities, representing 74 schools.
From a 7-year-old participant to a 73-year-old participant, four generations came together on one competitive platform.
It was more than a championship.
It was a celebration of the human mind.
A National Championship Of Unprecedented Diversity
The scale of participation was one of the defining features of the 15th edition.
The championship brought together:
- 180 participants
- 3 countries
- 14 states
- 60 towns and cities
- 74 schools
- Participants aged 7 to 73 years
- Participants representing four generations
The diversity of the participants demonstrated something fundamental about Memory Sport: memory training and memory competition are not restricted to a particular age group.
Children competed alongside teenagers, adults and senior citizens, creating a rare environment where different generations could challenge themselves through the same discipline.
From Classrooms To The National Stage
The championship also represented an important step in taking Memory Sport to communities and students who may not otherwise have had access to it.
Five students from Zilla Parishad High School, Hydernagar, participated in the championship after going through training and selection.
Another five students from ASWA Foundation, Shadnagar, reached the national championship.
Their participation was particularly meaningful because these initiatives were part of a larger effort to take Memory Science and Memory Sport beyond conventional training environments.
The championship was therefore not only about identifying winners.
It was also about creating opportunities.
ViralPe Steps Forward As Title Sponsor
A major milestone in the journey of the championship was the support received from ViralPe Sales and Services Private Limited, which came forward as the Title and Event Sponsor.
ViralPe's association had already begun with its support for the students of Zilla Parishad High School, Hydernagar. The company subsequently stepped forward to support the championship itself.
Speaking about the association, Mr. P. R. Srinivasan, Chairman of ViralPe, highlighted the connection between ViralPe's objective of simplifying sales for businesses and the ability of memory techniques to simplify memorisation and learning for students.
The company's support represented an important example of how corporate participation can help create opportunities in Memory Sport.
ViralPe Co-Founder Mrs. Srivalli Pepakayala also spoke about the importance of memory training as a foundation for learning and the vision of making memory training accessible across India.
A Platform Where Every Participant Was A Winner
The championship brought together competitors with different levels of experience, but the message from the stage went beyond medals.
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, IAS (Retd.), who joined the championship as Chief Guest, congratulated the participants and emphasised that participation itself represented an achievement.
His presence added significance to an event that was attempting to bring memory skills into a wider conversation about learning, education and human potential.
Other distinguished guests and speakers also shared their perspectives on memory, learning, confidence and perseverance.
Actor and National Trainer Pradeep spoke about how memory skills can build confidence.
Dr. A. Uma, Professor of Biotechnology at JNTUH, appreciated the participation of people from different age groups and recognised the value of memory techniques for students.
Shaik Sirajuddin, DIG (Retd.), reflected on how memory remains important even in an age of advanced technology, drawing from his own experiences in operations.
Srikanth Thogarchedu, President of Cronus Pharma, congratulated the winners while encouraging participants to continue despite setbacks.
Dr. C. Veerender, psychologist, acknowledged Squadron Leader Jayasimha's long-standing contribution to the development of Memory Sport in India.
“There Is No Good Or Bad Memory”
One of the important messages associated with the championship came from Squadron Leader Jayasimha, President of the Indian Memory Sports Council.
His message was simple:
“There is no such thing as a good or bad memory, only trained and untrained memories.”
The statement reflects one of the central ideas behind Memory Sport — memory can be approached as a skill that can be developed through appropriate techniques, training and practice.
For the thousands of students and learners who may encounter Memory Science through IMSA's programmes, this philosophy forms an important part of the journey.
Passing The Baton To The Next Generation
The 15th championship also marked an important moment in the evolution of the organisation.
Squadron Leader Jayasimha spoke about the importance of passing responsibilities to the next generation and announced that Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar would take over the duties and responsibilities associated with Jayasimha Mind Education and the Indian Memory Sports Council, while Squadron Leader Jayasimha would continue in a mentoring role.
It represented more than a change in responsibilities.
It reflected a vision of building continuity — taking the experience accumulated over years and passing it forward to a new generation of leadership.
A Vision To Find India's World Champions
For Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar, the championship was another step towards a much larger objective.
As Chief-in-Charge of Championships at the Indian Memory Sports Council, Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar expressed his gratitude to Squadron Leader Jayasimha for giving him the opportunity to contribute to the development of Memory Sport.
His vision was to expand Memory Sport across India, identify talented individuals, train them systematically and create a pathway for Indian participants to compete at the highest international level.
He also highlighted a challenge faced by talented memory athletes: financial limitations can prevent capable participants from travelling to international championships.
Greater sponsorship and institutional support, therefore, could play an important role in helping talented Indians reach the international stage.
Honouring 15 Years Of Jayasimha's Contribution
The championship also became an occasion to recognise the contribution of Squadron Leader Jayasimha to Memory Sport in India.
Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar announced that national memory awards would be named the:
Squadron Leader Jayasimha Memory Awards
The announcement was intended as a tribute to his 15 years of dedication to promoting Memory Sport in India.
It was a symbolic acknowledgement of the foundation upon which the next phase of Memory Sport could be built.
Celebrating The Champions
The championship ultimately came down to competition, concentration and performance.
Overall Category
Winner: Prateek Yadav
1st Runner-up: Vishvaa RajaKumar
2nd Runner-up: Achinth B A
Senior Category
Winner: Hema Doctor
Runner-up: Sampatrao Maruti Babar
Third: Baban Gaikwad
Adults Category
Winner: Prateek Yadav
Runner-up: Vishvaa RajaKumar
Third: Neena J Kalyan
Juniors Category
Winner: Achinth B A
Runner-up: Vanshika Dhananjay Shetty
Third: Ashith A
Kids Category
Winner: Sai Harshitha Periya Perumal
Runner-up: Niranjan Kritik V
Third: Anvita Bhat
Behind every result was preparation, practice and the willingness to challenge one's own limits.
A Championship Built By Many People
An event of this scale cannot be created by one person or one organisation alone.
The success of the 15th Indian National Memory Championship was made possible through the contribution of numerous individuals, volunteers, trainers, supporters and sponsors.
More than 70 students from the Department of Biotechnology at JNTUH played a pivotal role in the organisation of the event.
Thabitha Devarapalli and Neeraja served as Masters of Ceremony and brought energy to the proceedings.
The championship also received support from several sponsors and contributors, including:
- ViralPe Sales and Services Private Limited — Title and Event Sponsor
- M. Sri Lakshmi
- Dr. R Uma Sharma
- Mr. Nanjunda
- Gayatri Agarwal
- TP Praveen
- Umavathy
- Deepak N. Parab
- Bhavana Shah
Their contributions helped make the championship possible and supported participants in different ways.
The Beginning Of A New Chapter
The 15th Indian National Open Memory Championship 2024 concluded successfully, but its significance extended beyond the results announced on the day.
It demonstrated that Memory Sport could bring together:
children and senior citizens,
students and professionals,
schools and organisations,
trainers and athletes,
India and the international community.
It showed that there is an audience for Memory Sport and that there are people across different age groups willing to learn, train and compete.
Most importantly, it strengthened the vision of taking Memory Science and Memory Sport to more schools, more students and more communities across India.
The 15th championship was not the destination.
It was a beginning.
180 participants. 14 states. 60 towns and cities. 74 schools. Four generations. One national championship.
And a vision that continues:
Building a Culture of Memory in India.
