Utahns fail to advance at national spelling bee

WASHINGTON — Kunal Sah, a Green River teen who had hoped his showing at the Scripps 2007 National Spelling Bee would lead to a reunion with his deported parents, did not advance beyond the first round of the competition, based on results announced earlier this afternoon by Paige Kimble, the Bee's director.

Sah, 13, has become a celebrity of sorts, gaining national attention for his determination to win the Bee to sway immigration officials that his

parents deserve to live in America. His parents were deported to India last summer.

"I don't want to talk right now," Sah said just after learning he would not be going on with the competition. He was visibly upset, and his uncle, D.C.

Prasad, comforted him, asking media crowding around him to give him some time before asking more questions.

Sah, speller number 260, spelled "hurdle" correctly during the on-stage portion of the preliminary round Wednesday, but the score of his written test was not high enough to push him to the next round.

Helena Ma, 12, of Layton, and Erika Gritton, 13, of Orem, also spelled their words correctly on stage, but neither advanced to the next round.