Amazing talent: Punithamalar arranging the chess pieces blindfolded at her school’s library in Menglembu. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: A 10-year-old girl with an extraordinary gift of “seeing” is aiming to set another Guinness World Record by identifying the flags of 195 countries in the fastest time while blindfolded.
R. Punithamalar from SJK(T) Menglembu received a Guinness World Record certificate on Sept 8 for arranging the pieces on a chessboard blindfolded in a mere 45.72 seconds – the world’s fastest.
The Year Four pupil, who aspires to be a space scientist, has already identified flags of some 70 countries blindfolded.
“I can see anything that is in front of me blindfolded, just like seeing with my eyes open – this is a gift I discovered when I attended a four-month yoga and brain memory programme in December last year.
“So right now, I am practising identifying the flags of 195 countries listed under the United Nations.
“I believe all children have a talent, and if they practise, they can do anything,” said Punithamalar.
She demonstrated her gift of arranging chess pieces blindfolded at her school’s library yesterday.
Her father K. Rajashekar, 37, a tuition teacher, said it was initially hard to believe what she could do.
Parental support: Punithamalar holding the Guinness World Record certificate with her parents Rajashekar and S. Sivasankari, 35.
He said he blindfolded her, and Punithamalar was able to not just guess the colour of a ribbon, but she was also able to “read” the words on the ribbon.
Rajashekar said his daughter could also ride a bicycle blindfolded without knocking into anyone or anything.
“I was scared when she told me that during her course, one of the activities included a blindfolded task, where she was supposed to use touch and smell to identify an object, but she could actually see the object while being blindfolded.
“I tried to get answers but I could not, and later I spoke to the parent-teacher association (PTA) about it, which then spoke to the headmistress, where her talent was then promoted on social media.
“I got all the encouragement from her teachers, the PTA members and the headmistress, and that is when I took the step to get her into the world record as I wanted something concrete to prove her talent,” he added.
He said the feat for the world record (fastest arrangement of chess pieces) was carried out at the school by the Amazing Malaysian Book of Records on May 19, where all the required videos were later submitted to Guinness, before the certificate was presented on Sept 8.
“For the new feat, it will not be about breaking records, but in setting a new record altogether because no one has attempted it blindfolded.
“I have already made the application, and I am now waiting for a reply from Guinness as to when she can attempt the feat,” he added.
Punithamalar was also named the second runner-up for the Malaysia Kids Got Talent show, which qualifies her to audition for America’s Got Talent Season 19.
The audition will take place in Penang on Oct 19 and 20, and if she gets selected, she will go to the United States.
Punithamalar will also be receiving the Asia Outstanding Child Award in India on Dec 3.
