Abacus gains immense popularity among Indian students

Thane, Nov 28 (UNI) Abacus, a mathematical game popular in China, is gaining immense popularity in India as well going by the number of students who participated in a state-level competition held here recently by the Ideal Play Abacus India.

A sizeable number of students from the rural parts of the state also participated in the meet and are now awaiting to participate at the national and international levels.

The state-level meet is to be followed by a national-level competition on January 21 at Chennai, a spokesperson for Ideal Play Abacus (IPA) India Pvt Ltd told UNI. Out of the 5,000 students who participated in the State meet, 700 have qualified for the national finals. Winners in the national competition will be eligible for appearing in the international competition to be held in China on August 18 and 19, 2007.

Set up by women entrepreneurs in 2003, the IPA is affiliated to Play Abacus, Malaysia, and the Guang Xi Abacus Association, China.

The company has set up over 300 centres all over India with more than 500 trained teachers and has over 30,000 students.

IPA has conducted two national-level competitions so far where over 10,000 students from all over India participated. In addition, international grading examinations are conducted and successful candidates are awarded certificates by the Guang Xi Abacus Association of China.

UNI XR MAZ SY ND0844