Recently arrived teenager wins Scrabble world title for Australia
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
In-depth
Named sources
Context piece
- Dineth Fernando, a 14-year-old who recently arrived in Australia from Sri Lanka, won the World Youth Scrabble Championship.
- He practiced extensively, studying 200 words daily from the official dictionary.
- The win has helped him adapt to Australia, and he aspires to become a doctor.
A 14-year-old newcomer to Australia has achieved a remarkable feat, winning the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Nairobi. Dineth Fernando, who arrived from Sri Lanka less than a year ago, triumphed over 140 competitors from around the globe.
Fernando attributes his success to rigorous practice, dedicating himself to studying 200 words daily from the game's official dictionary. This disciplined approach paid off, culminating in a world title. For Dineth, who is still mastering English as a second language, the game has been instrumental in helping him settle into his new life in Australia and build friendships.
All the hard work paid off.
His journey with Scrabble began at age eight in Sri Lanka, where the game is popular due to school competitions. He competed in national championships in 2022 and 2024 before winning the Australian Youth Scrabble Championship in July, which inspired his world event participation. He notes the intense competition and dedication of youth players in Sri Lanka.
It feels as if its a dream. I knew that he would one day win it, but its still surreal.
Despite his success in a word game, Dineth harbors ambitions of becoming a doctor and has a keen interest in mathematics and science. His father, Prasanna Fernando, a former medical doctor in Sri Lanka, expressed immense pride in his son's achievement, especially considering the long journey and the geopolitical tensions that briefly threatened their travel. He described the win as a dream come true.
The article also touches upon the state of competitive Scrabble in Australia, noting it is relatively underdeveloped compared to countries like Sri Lanka, India, and Malaysia. While some schools offer Scrabble as an extension activity, there is a desire to see it integrated more widely into the curriculum, recognized not just as a game but as a tool for enhancing literacy and numeracy skills.
We want other people to think of it as a sport, but a sport that addresses literacy and numeracy.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
