I’m backing competitions engaging student prodigies (8)
I believe the answer is:
miracles
'prodigies' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.
'i'm backing competitions engaging student' is the wordplay.
'backing' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'competitions' becomes 'races' (race is a kind of competition).
'engaging' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are engaged or involved in others).
'student' becomes 'L' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'im' back-to-front is 'mi'.
'races' going around 'l' is 'racles'.
'mi'+'racles'='MIRACLES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for miracles that I've seen before include "Marvellous events" , "Inexplicable events" , "law-breaking events?" , "Supernatural events" , "Events that are not explicable by natural or scientific laws" .)