Saratoga Patch Whiz Kid of the Week—Ananya Krishnan

Ananya Krishnan, Age 11

School: fifth-grader at Argonaut Elementary School in Saratoga

Accomplishments:

Proud mother Rohini Krishnan said in an email interview that Ananya is a talented girl with a variety of interests and picks up new skills quickly.

"She is a voracious reader who finished the Harry Potter series before she turned 8, and hasn't stopped reading since," mom said.

She's also a natural athlete and by the age of 7, was selected to participate in competitive soccer, swimming or tennis, according to mom.

"She opted for soccer and loves the sport," she added, saying Ananya played competitive soccer for three years on a team that was one year above her age group.

She's now playing at an elite level for the West Valley Soccer Club, mom added.

Ananya enjoys playing the piano, and is a self-taught singer, mom continued, noting that she was selected to play the eponymous title role in her school musical "Mulan" when she was 10, and acted and sang on stage for nearly 90 minutes.

Ananya has also been learning Bharatanatyam, a highly disciplined form of classical Indian dance, for the past six years, and is performing in her second recital this spring, she said.

Key to Awesomeness:

"Ananya is a self-motivated individual and a bold natural leader who has voluntarily organized numerous activities in her school, from fundraising ventures to sports leagues; and has sung solo and acapella in front of a full auditorium," mom Rohini Krishnan said.

"She is an excellent swimmer, and also enjoys skiing, hiking and camping; and as a first-time basketball player still managed to become a key member of her recreational basketball league. Beneath her competitive exterior lies a heart of gold; Ananya loves to spontaneously make cards for people and full dinners and dessert for her family of four.

"Ananya recently competed in the Destination Imagination creative challenge series for the first time with her twin brother and five other classmates ...  Their team placed first in the Silicon Valley Regional tournament, then competed in the state tournament in San Diego where they finished Second. They are now going to the global finals in Knoxville, TN where they will compete against teams from all over the world."