SA teen shines at World Cup Spelling Bee in Shanghai

Ashton Singh - UNDER PRESSURE Ashton Singh takes his turn at the microphone during the World Cup Spelling Bee in Shanghai, where he finished eighth in the Senior Division for spellers aged 13 to 17.

Three years after entering his first competitive spelling bee, Ashton Singh has established himself among the world's top young spellers, finishing eighth in the Senior Division at the inaugural World Cup Spelling Bee in Shanghai, China.

The 13-year-old, now in his first year of high school, represented Team South Africa at the international competition held recently, where 120 contestants from 11 countries competed across four age categories. Team South Africa finished fourth overall, while Singh secured eighth place in the Senior Division for spellers aged 13 to 17.

His journey began at a Department of Education Regional Spelling Bee. He finished third at the provincial competition before returning the following year to win the provincial title. He subsequently finished second at the South African Spelling Bee, earning selection for Team South Africa.

"It was an incredible privilege to represent South Africa on the world stage," Singh said.

"Walking onto that stage representing South Africa, knowing I was standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the best in the world, was an unforgettable moment."

The journey has not been without disappointment. Singh was previously selected for Team South Africa for the African Spelling Bee in Nigeria, but was unable to travel because the required funding could not be secured. He later competed in the African Spelling Bee in Zimbabwe, where he again finished second, earning his opportunity to compete at the World Cup.

According to Roger Dickinson of the South African Spelling Bee, the standard was exceptionally high, with the field including the 2025 USA champion, the current Asian champion and the reigning African champion from Nigeria.

Dickinson described Singh's achievement as historic, saying the top 10 were "very evenly matched" and that finishing among them represented an outstanding accomplishment.

Preparation for the World Cup involved mastering a 20,000-word bank supplied by the World Spelling Bee, with parents and coaches playing a major role. In Singh's case, his mother, Anisha Singh, served as his coach, researching word origins, compiling study material and helping him understand the linguistic patterns behind unfamiliar words.

The young speller committed to at least an hour of practice each day, with longer sessions on weekends and more intensive preparation during the final week before the competition.

His approach goes beyond simply memorising words. When faced with an unfamiliar word, he considers its definition and language of origin before breaking it into syllables and looking for familiar roots, sounds and spelling patterns.

"The real challenge wasn't the word itself—it was the pressure of the moment," Singh said of the round in which he was eliminated.

The experience, he said, taught him that success at that level is not only about knowing the answer, but remaining calm enough to access what he knows.