Five students from ASWA Foundation’s Children Learning Centre selected for the 15th Indian National Open Memory Championship 2024
Taking Memory Sport to the grassroots means creating opportunities for children who may not otherwise encounter the sport.
As part of this vision, Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar, Chief-in-Charge of Championships of the Indian Memory Sports Council, began looking beyond conventional school programmes and explored opportunities to introduce Memory Sport to children from organisations working with underserved communities.
This initiative led to ASWA Foundation’s Children Learning Centre (CLC) in Shadnagar, where an enthusiastic response from the organisation opened the door for a new group of children to discover Memory Science and Memory Sport.
A New Opportunity In Shadnagar
Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar was introduced to ASWA Foundation, whose Children Learning Centre in Shadnagar provides learning opportunities and support to children from the local community.
The initiative was welcomed with enthusiasm by Srinivasa Raju, Founder of ASWA Foundation, and Haritha, Co-Founder of ASWA Foundation.
They immediately supported the idea of introducing the children to Memory Sport and giving them an opportunity to participate in a national championship.
For many of the children, this was their first exposure to Memory Sport.
Introducing Memory Science
Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar and his team travelled to Shadnagar and conducted an introductory session for the children at the Children Learning Centre.
The session introduced the children to Memory Science and practical memory techniques, showing them that memory is not simply something that people are born with, but a skill that can be developed through appropriate techniques and practice.
The children participated enthusiastically and showed considerable interest in learning the techniques.
Following the initial in-person session, training continued through online sessions, allowing the children to practise and develop the skills they had learned.
From Training To Selection
After the training phase, Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar once again personally visited the Children Learning Centre in Shadnagar to conduct the selection process.
The children were given an opportunity to demonstrate the skills they had developed during their training.
The selection process revealed strong potential among the participants.
Five students were ultimately selected to participate in the 15th Indian National Open Memory Championship 2024, held in Hyderabad on 20 October 2024.
The Five Selected Students
The students selected from the Children Learning Centre were:
- S. Nandini
- M. Mahesh
- S. Ashwini
- M. Meena
- S. Gangothri
For these students, selection for a national memory championship was a completely new experience.
Continuing The Training
The journey did not end with selection.
Ramya, who works with the Children Learning Centre, took responsibility for supporting the selected students with their continued training under the supervision of Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar.
This continued guidance helped the students prepare for their participation in the national championship.
The initiative therefore developed into a complete pathway:
Introduction → Training → Selection → Continued Preparation → National Championship
More Than A Competition
For the Children Learning Centre, the initiative represented more than simply sending five students to a competition.
Srinivasa Raju, Founder of ASWA Foundation, highlighted the significance of giving children from the local community an opportunity to participate in a national-level championship.
The children were excited to learn that they could compete at a national level, while the opportunity also created an example for other children at the Centre.
The students who participated could inspire their peers to learn new skills, practise memory techniques and explore opportunities beyond their everyday learning environment.
Haritha, Co-Founder of ASWA Foundation, also noted the enthusiasm among the children during the introductory session. The children showed a strong desire to learn something new, actively participated and asked questions throughout the session.
Building Confidence Through Opportunity
A national championship can offer much more than a competitive experience.
For a young learner, stepping onto a national platform can build confidence, provide exposure to a new environment and demonstrate that opportunities in competitive fields can be accessible to them.
The initiative at the Children Learning Centre was therefore another step towards making Memory Sport available to children from diverse backgrounds.
Taking Memory Sport To The Grassroots
For Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar, the initiative forms part of a larger vision of taking Memory Science and Memory Sport across India.
With a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from JNTUH, Dr. P. Srinivas Kumar is working towards identifying talented individuals, providing them with training and creating opportunities for them to participate in Memory Sport at higher levels.
The long-term vision is to nurture Indian memory athletes who can eventually compete at the highest international levels, including the World Memory Championships.
But that journey begins with discovering talent.
And talent can be found anywhere.
It can be found in a school classroom, a community centre or a Children Learning Centre in Shadnagar.
A Seed For The Future
The selection of five students from ASWA Foundation’s Children Learning Centre was another step in taking Memory Sport to the grassroots.
It showed what can happen when an organisation opens itself to a new opportunity and children are given the chance to learn, practise and compete.
For S. Nandini, M. Mahesh, S. Ashwini, M. Meena and S. Gangothri, the journey from the Children Learning Centre to the national championship was a new beginning.
And for Memory Sport in India, it was another seed planted at the grassroots.
From a learning centre in Shadnagar to a national championship stage — the journey had begun.
