SIP Abacus, one of India’s leading children’s skill development organisations and a six-time Limca Book of Records holder, organised the 22nd Telangana Regional Prodigy Championship 2026 on Sunday at Classic Convention Three, Shamshabad.
A record 3,200 kids aged between 5 and 14 years from across Telangana participated in what is regarded as one of the state’s largest Mental Mathematics championships.
Pannuru Prabhakar, Principal, ARCA Global International School, attended as the Chief Guest. The championship was formally inaugurated by Pannuru Prabhakar in the presence of Dinesh Victor, Founder and Managing Director, SIP Academy India.
Addressing the gathering, Pannuru Prabhakar recalled the famous Sanskrit verse: “Yathā śikhā mayūrāṇāṁ nāgānāṁ maṇayo yathā. Tadvad vedāṅgaśāstrāṇāṁ gaṇitaṁ mūrdhani sthitam. Explaining its relevance, he said:Just as the crest is the most distinguished feature of a peacock and the jewel, the most prized possession of a cobra, Mathematics occupies the highest position among all sciences and branches of knowledge. Ancient India recognised the importance of Mathematics centuries ago, and its significance remains unchanged even in the era of Artificial Intelligence.
Speaking on “Abacus Training in the Age of AI,” Dinesh Victor said that many people mistakenly believe that children no longer need mental arithmetic because computers and AI can perform calculations instantly.
The reality is exactly the opposite. AI can provide answers. Abacus training develops the mind that asks the right questions. AI gives information; Abacus builds brain power.
He explained that Abacus training strengthens concentration, memory, visualisation, analytical thinking and processing speed—core human capabilities that technology cannot replace.
As AI becomes smarter, Mathematics becomes more important than ever. Artificial Intelligence can automate calculations, but it cannot replace reasoning, judgement, creativity and critical thinking. These are the skills that children will need to thrive in the future.
Pannuru Prabhakar added AI makes calculations easier; Abacus makes thinking stronger. The objective of Abacus education is not merely faster arithmetic. It trains the brain to focus, process information rapidly and think systematically.
He noted that in an AI-driven world, children require strong logical reasoning and mental discipline to evaluate information and determine whether an answer actually makes sense.
Highlighting the growing challenge of distraction in the digital age, Dinesh Victor observed: Children today are growing up surrounded by screens, instant answers and shrinking attention spans. Abacus training provides a healthy cognitive workout that improves concentration, memory retention, visualisation skills, confidence, numerical ability and overall academic performance.
Drawing a powerful analogy, he said: AI is like a high-speed vehicle. Abacus helps build a better driver. A powerful machine is useful only when guided by a well-trained mind. In the age of AI, the ability to think will be more valuable than the ability to calculate. Abacus develops the thinking brain behind the technology.
He concluded: AI may replace manual calculations, but it cannot replace a well-trained mind. That is why Abacus remains relevant—and perhaps more important than ever—in the age of AI.
One of the most anticipated highlights of the championship was the unique Concentration Round, conducted immediately after the main competition.
While examinations are typically associated with silence, stress and tension—particularly Mathematics examinations—SIP Abacus seeks to challenge this perception. During the Concentration Round, children solved mental arithmetic problems while loud music played in the background. Participants sang, danced, moved around and yet continued to perform complex calculations with remarkable accuracy.
The innovative round tested the ability of children to maintain focus and concentration despite distractions—a skill increasingly valued in today’s fast-paced digital world.
The Regional Prodigy Championship is SIP Abacus’s flagship annual competition and provides a platform for children to showcase the cognitive abilities they develop through years of Abacus and Mental Mathematics training.
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