HYDERABAD, Oct 5: Students from more than 40 schools took part in the 9th Dawn in Education National Spelling Bee 2013 organised by the Dawn Media Group in partnership with the US embassy here on Saturday.

The Sindh rounds were supported by the IBA, Sukkur.

The Hyderabad round was judged by the Oxford University Press. The media partners were DawnNews and CityFM89.

Participants in the competition impressed the audience and judges with quick answers to difficult words.

The contestants were divided into four pools, each consisting of three age groups: 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17 years.

Over 400 children from more than 40 schools of Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Tando Allahyar, Shahdadpur, Petaro, Sanghar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Adam, Thatta, Talhar and other towns took part in the competition.

The programme, held in the Mumtaz Mirza auditorium of the Sindh Museum, began at 9.30am and ended at 5pm.

The chief guest of the competition, Hyderabad SSP Fida Hussain Mastoi, gave away certificates and gifts to the participants at the end of the competition.

Winners of the Hyderabad competition will participate in the Karachi regional championship on Nov 18.