Redhill learner set to represent South Africa
As Dhanika gears up for the championship, her journey inspires younger learners at Redhill and beyond.
Redhill School is beaming with pride as one of their own, Dhanika Dalal, a Grade 5 learner, has qualified for the prestigious 2024 Junior Mental Calculation World Championship.
The competition, renowned for showcasing the world’s top young minds in mental maths, will take place from September 21 to 23 in Bielefeld, Germany.
Read more: Local learners excel in the Global Mental Maths Challenge
More than 100 participants from 24 countries are expected to compete, with learners undertaking a two-hour mental exam covering a variety of complex mathematical topics.
Dhanika, a young maths prodigy, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to represent South Africa on the global stage.
“I feel proud of myself, and I am grateful to my parents and teachers for assisting and supporting me throughout this journey. I am excited to represent South Africa in Germany.”
The championship is known for its rigorous challenges, and Dhanika is preparing meticulously for the Junior 1 category, which includes complex calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square and cube roots, calendar sums, ratios, fractions, and more.
Explaining her preparation process, Dhanika said, “I started by practising each paper individually without worrying about the time. Once I felt confident, I began timing myself to improve both my speed and accuracy. Over the last few months, I have managed to score 1 200 points.”
Dhanika’s passion for mental maths began early.
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“I started when I was four or five years old. I loved solving questions quickly and accurately compared to my peers. It gave me a sense of achievement and motivated me to keep improving.”
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges, but Dhanika has tackled them with resilience and focus.
“In the beginning, it was difficult to work with big, complicated numbers in my head, especially since we are not allowed to write anything down. But I practised a lot, and my teacher gave me tips on how to solve them more efficiently.”
Dhanika’s impressive track record includes a Gold Award at the PAMA Global Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Online Competition in 2021, another Gold at the South Korea competition in 2022, and a Champion Award at the India competition in 2023.
As she prepares for the upcoming championship, Dhanika remains motivated by her personal goal of achieving 1 300 to 1 500 points.
“I want to make myself proud and prove that I can do it. I know I have the capability and strength to sit for long hours and solve these papers,” she said.
When asked who her biggest inspiration is, she named Stiaan Scheepers, who has consistently excelled in the championship over the past six years.
Her biggest supporters, however, are closer to home: “My teacher, Sensei Hantie, and my mom have always believed in my capabilities and talent.”
With just a few weeks to go before the championship, Dhanika is eagerly looking forward to not only the competition but also the cultural experience of visiting Germany.
“I am excited to visit a new country, learn about their culture, and engage with participants from all over the world.”
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Related article: Local learners excel in the Global Mental Maths Challenge
