Mumbai's Sardar Patel College wins BBC World's University Challenge

Today, that is, Thursday (March 11, 2004), BBC World's University Challenge reaches a nail-biting climax as the Indian champions from Sardar Patel College of Engineering (SPCE), Mumbai, beat the UK finalists from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. This international test of quizzing prowess will be seen at 10.00 pm, with an additional appointment to view on Sunday, March 14, 2004, at 10.00 am.

British High Commissioner, Sir Michael Arthur, would give away the trophy to the ecstatic team from SPCE Mumbai. The winning team from SPCE Mumbai - comprising Nirad Inamdar, Bharat Jayakumar, Nishad Manerikar and Shrijit R. Plappally (captain) - won with a score of 150, while the UK side of Edward Wallace (captain), Laura Ashe, Darren Khodaverdi and Lameen Souag, put up a brave fight to finish with 130. The SPCE Mumbai team also earned a study tour to the UK, sponsored by The British Council.

Launched in India in August 2003, University Challenge is the 'ultimate' quiz show, bringing together the best quizzing teams from India's top universities and colleges. Hosted by India's favourite quizmaster, Siddhartha Basu, the programme is sponsored by Samsung Sound, Aditya Birla Group and Life Insurance Corporation of India. Based on the UK's popular TV quiz show, which has been broadcast for 40 years, University Challenge is one of the longest running programmes of its kind in the world.