Rhea shot ahead in yesterday's final of 'Child Genius 2016' on Channel 4 with six correct answers and then drew equal with her opponent Saffy on nine points as they entered the final head-to-head question round.
Rhea, who moved to the UK with her family from the US six years ago and now lives in west London, correctly spelled the word "eleemosynary", meaning relating to charity, to claim the title at the end of four weeks of tough question rounds.
Her mother Sonal, who gave up her job as an obstetrician to train Rhea, had stepped in to contest an incorrect answer that she had given during her specialist subject round on Florence Nightingale's influence on military and healthcare reform.
Independent adjudicator Olivia van der Werff agreed the question had been too general and accepted Rhea's answer of Dr Duncan Menzies to the question: "To which medical officer did Florence Nightingale report to in the Crimea?" It meant that Rhea avoided a tie-break with Birmingham-born Stephen, who was ranked third, with Saffy and Rhea securing their place in the final.
One Twitter comment read: "Rhea is such a smart young lady but her mother is shocking! This isn't about you..."
"Rhea's parents are ridiculously pushy, poor kid," read another tweet.
Earlier, Sonal had rejected concerns that programmes such as 'Child Genius' can put too much pressure on youngsters.
"Rhealoved doing it. The show gives them a chance to be with kids like them, to be in that room and feel normal," she said.
The quiz show is hosted by Richard Osman, who described this year's show as "the greatest final in the history of Child Genius".
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
