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IIT Bombay Star Quits KBC for Rs 50 Lakh, Misses Derby Question
23 Aug
Summary
- Yogesh Sahu quit Kaun Banega Crorepati before the final question.
- He left with ₹50 lakh after uncertainty about an Indian horse racing question.
- Sahu previously turned down an ₹18 lakh job offer for UPSC aspirations.

Yogesh Sahu, an IIT Bombay alumnus, demonstrated remarkable composure on Kaun Banega Crorepati, ultimately securing ₹50 lakh. Facing the ₹1 crore question without any lifelines, Sahu opted to leave the game rather than risk his accumulated winnings. The pivotal question involved identifying the winner of the first Indian Derby in 1943, a detail about Indian horse racing that proved unfamiliar to him.
His decision stemmed from uncertainty about the horse, Princess Beautiful, owned by the Maharaja of Baroda. Although he later guessed incorrectly, Sahu prioritized safeguarding his substantial winnings. This choice highlights his strategic thinking, especially considering his prior decision to forgo a lucrative ₹18 lakh annual job offer from campus placements to prepare for the UPSC civil services examination, aiming to become an IAS officer.
The horse Princess Beautiful, a significant figure in Indian racing history, also won the Indian 1000 Guineas and Indian 2000 Guineas. Her association with Maharaja Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad of Baroda connects the KBC question to a broader historical context of Indian royalty and the transition period around Independence. The Maharaja's interest in horse breeding and racing further adds depth to this narrative, underscoring the cultural significance of the question.