KBC 18: IIT Bombay Topper Yogesh Sahu Misses ₹1 Crore Question After One Crucial Assumption

A question about Indian horse-racing history became the turning point for Yogesh Sahu, an IIT Bombay graduate who recently appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18. The 23-year-old contestant had already secured ₹50 lakh and was just one correct answer away from winning ₹1 crore when a question linked to the first Indian Derby stopped his impressive run.

What made the moment particularly interesting was that Yogesh did not simply admit that he did not know the answer. With no lifelines remaining, he attempted to solve the question through elimination. However, one interpretation of the wording led him away from the correct option.

What Was the ₹1 Crore Question on KBC?

Host Amitabh Bachchan presented Yogesh with a question concerning the inaugural Indian Derby held at Mumbai's Mahalaxmi Racecourse.

The question essentially asked which horse belonging to the Maharaja of Baroda won the first Indian Derby in 1943.

The four choices given to Yogesh were:

• A. Princess Beautiful

• B. Regal Domain

• C. Star of Gwalior

• D. Prince Pradeep

By this stage of the game, Yogesh had exhausted his available lifelines. He therefore had to depend entirely on his own reasoning.

Yogesh Used Elimination—but One Assumption Cost Him ₹1 Crore

Unable to recall the answer directly, Yogesh tried to narrow down the choices logically.

The crucial mistake reportedly came from the use of the word "horse" in the question. Yogesh interpreted it in a gender-specific sense and reasoned that a horse named "Princess Beautiful" was unlikely to be the answer.

Based on that assumption, he eliminated Princess Beautiful and eventually locked Prince Pradeep as his answer.

Unfortunately, that reasoning proved costly.

The correct answer was Princess Beautiful.

In English, "horse" can be used as a general term for the animal regardless of sex. More specifically, Princess Beautiful was a filly, meaning a young female horse.

Who Was Princess Beautiful?

Princess Beautiful holds an important place in the history of Indian horse racing.

The inaugural Indian Derby was held at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai on January 30, 1943. Princess Beautiful, owned by the Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda, emerged victorious.

She was trained by M. C. Patel, while Australian jockey Edgar Britt rode her to victory.

The first Indian Derby reportedly carried prize money of ₹35,000—a figure that appears modest compared with the prize pools associated with major horse races today.

Princess Beautiful's achievements were not limited to the Derby. During the same remarkable period, she also won the Indian 1000 Guineas and Indian 2000 Guineas, establishing herself as one of the notable names from the early years of organised Indian racing.

Yogesh Still Walked Away With ₹50 Lakh

Missing the ₹1 crore question did not mean Yogesh left the show empty-handed.

His performance had already taken him to the ₹50 lakh milestone, making his KBC journey noteworthy even without the crore-rupee victory.

The episode also drew attention to his educational and family background.

Yogesh comes from Bhatapara in Chhattisgarh and studied electrical engineering at IIT Bombay.

According to reports, he performed exceptionally well academically and emerged as a topper in his batch.

Turned Down a High-Paying Job to Prepare for UPSC

Yogesh's journey becomes more unusual when his career decision is considered.

After graduating, he reportedly received a job opportunity carrying an annual package of around ₹18 lakh. Instead of taking the corporate route, however, he decided to pursue his ambition of entering India's civil services through the UPSC examination.

The decision was particularly significant because Yogesh comes from a financially modest household. His father works as a driver and reportedly earns around ₹20,000 per month.

Despite the financial pressure involved in giving up a well-paying opportunity, Yogesh's family has continued supporting his civil-services preparation.

Why the ₹1 Crore Question Became Such a Talking Point

The question was difficult because it relied on relatively specialised knowledge about the history of Indian horse racing. But Yogesh's mistake also illustrates how reasoning by elimination can sometimes become a trap in quiz competitions.

He did not randomly guess the answer. Instead, he developed a logical argument around the wording of the question. The problem was that the underlying assumption—that "horse" necessarily meant a male animal—was incorrect in that context.

Had he retained Princess Beautiful as a possible answer, the outcome could have been very different.

A Memorable KBC Moment Despite Missing the Jackpot

Yogesh Sahu may not have converted his ₹50 lakh winnings into ₹1 crore, but his appearance became memorable for reasons beyond the final result.

An IIT Bombay topper from a modest family, a lucrative job offer turned down for a civil-services dream, and finally a ₹1 crore question lost because of a subtle interpretation made his KBC journey stand out.

And for viewers playing along at home, the episode left behind an interesting piece of trivia: Princess Beautiful was the winner of the first Indian Derby held at Mumbai's Mahalaxmi Racecourse in 1943.