Scrabble Youth Championship: Squad finalised for event in Australia

Eight-year-old Saim Usmani also part of travelling pack

KARACHI: Eight-year old Saim Usmani, on the verge of becoming the youngest ever Pakistan representative in world scrabble, is one of the favourites to win the 2015 World Scrabble Youth Championship (WSYC), taking place in Perth, Australia from October 31.

Saim, a BVS Parsi High student, has enough vocabulary to defeat most players in the World Championship, and Pakistan Scrabble Association (PSA) Director Tariq Pervez has no doubts that the youngster can triumph in the U10 category of the tournament.

The PSA showcased the 13 players for the WSYC in a press conference at the Beach Luxury Hotel on Monday and also revealed that seven-time national champion Waseem Khatri and 2013 World Scrabble Youth Champion Moizullah Baig will compete in the seniors’ category of the World Championship from November 4.

World Youth Scrabble Championship: Squad announced for Australia event

“There is a new word ‘tsktsks’ that I’ve learnt recently and I want to improve more, focusing primarily on improving words with consonants,” Saim, who believes Pakistan can attain top position at the WSYC, told The Express Tribune. “I’ve been practicing with Waseem and both he and Moiz have been of great help. I just want to do everything I can to win.”

The 13-member squad, which will leave for Perth on Tuesday, includes Saim, Abdullah Abbasi, Mariam Arif, twins Hammad and Hassan Hadi, Tayyab Mirza, Taha Mirza, Ali Rashid, Daniyal Sanaullah, Abrsar Mustajab, Hasham Hadi, Maryam Jaleel and Muhammad Talha. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2015.

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