PETALING JAYA – How fast can you arrange a chess set? Now try doing it blindfolded.
For 10-year-old Punithamalar Rajashekar, it took her 45.72 seconds, which also broke the world record previously held by a boy from India at 1.02 minute.
Her feat received recognition from the Guinness World Records, witnessed by members of the Parents and Teachers Association and the management staff of her school SJK(T) Menglembu in Perak.
The attempt was made in May this year witnessed by Prof Santharasekaran Subramaniam as the main jury for the national and world record, as reported by Amazing Malaysian Book of Record Malaysia.
The recognition of her successful attempt was reported by Guinness World Records on Monday.
Punithamalar is also a chess player, having started at the age of five.
Guinness reported that she is the best player in her school and played at the district level.
She is also a registered member of the International Chess Federation.
“I had already participated in various events such as Kids Got Talent, and felt that I wanted to do more to get recognition.
“My father suggested that I should focus on my passion, so my family and I decided I should break this particular record,” Punithamalar was quoted as saying.
She was previously a contestant on Malaysia’s Kids Got Talent.
In a previous interview with Astro Ulagam, Punithamalar’s father said his daughter is an early riser.
“She has set a great example for us all by dedicating time in the morning for yoga and meditation,” Rajashekar had said.
She also revealed to Guinness that she plans to break another record in the blindfolded category but did not share specifics. – The Vibes, September 27, 2023