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Grand Master of memory

July 13 - July 19, 2022
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Gulf Weekly Grand Master of memory
Gulf Weekly Grand Master of memory
Gulf Weekly Grand Master of memory


Talented teenager Sam Mathew has been awarded the title of Grand Master in a popular platform for his speedy recollection skills.

The wheelchair-bound 15-year-old, born with developmental delays, has impressed the Asia Book of Records team with his photographic memory after recalling the alphabet in French and Hebrew, along with aviation phonetic alphanumeric codes, in two minutes and 16 seconds.

He made the achievement at the age of 14 on April 4, 2022.

“Sam is a blessed, special need child with many talents,” said his father, John, who works as a secretary and lives in Hoora. “Sam is differently-abled by way of walking and we have tried many medications and physiotherapy to help him. He recently got the certificate from the Asia Book of Records and his mother Suma and I are very proud of him.

“We discovered that he was specially-talented when he was three and we have seen him flourish. He is so proud as well and aims to continue working to achieve even more world records.”

The Asia Book of Records is a platform in which individuals with outstanding achievements are recognised for the world to see and get inspiration from.

Sam, who used to live in Bahrain and was home-schooled, would sit with John every day, learning different alphabets, music and more. He moved to the Indian state of Kerala to live with John’s mother a couple of years ago and attends a local school there. His mum and dad video call him every day and say they are impressed at how much he can recollect.

“It’s like he has a photographic memory,” added John. “I sent his videos to Asia Book of Records and they gave him the title. He was even certified by the India Book of Records for his talent and received certification from both.

“He can memorise anything you tell him once. For example, he knows all the elements of the periodic table by heart, as well as all 72 numbers of Melakartha Ragas of Carnatic Music from Kanakangi to Rasikapriya.”

Sam also knows Biblical verses in numerous languages, numbers in different languages as well as states and capitals of India and the US and much more. According to his father, he is also a talented singer.







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