Nepali National Debate Team among World Top 15

26 Jul 2024, Belgrade

The Nepali National Debate Team has set a new national record at the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) by advancing into the knockout rounds for the first time before ultimately being crowned as the 15th best in the world.

The team has also been ranked as the 10th best English as a Second Language (ESL) category amongst the participating 68 countries at the 36th edition of the Championships being organized in Belgrade, Serbia. Prior to the historic performance, Nepal was on the 40th position.

Nepal won five preliminary rounds out of the possible eight and secured 13 ballots across all preliminary rounds. With wins against Uganda, Argentina, Slovakia, Poland, and Japan, and losses against the Netherlands, Serbia, and England in the round, Nepal then went on to defeat the UAE in the Round of 32. They ended their historic run having narrowly lost against Qatar in the Round of 16 on Tuesday.

Comprising Mr. Bishwojeet Bista, Ms. Sadhabi Mahat, Ms. Sangya Pandey, and Mr. Sujal Khadka as the Team Members, the team is Coached by former National Team member and DNN Board Member Mr Pragyan Kumar Acharya. Debate Network Nepal (DNN), the national debating body, facilitated the screening and participation. The team was supported by Himalayan Capital Pvt. Ltd. and Lumiere Education.

Nepal participated in the WSDC for the first time in 2010 in Qatar. Nepal then participated in 2011 in Scotland and then in 2015 in Singapore. Starting from Germany WSDC in 2016, Debate Network Nepal has been facilitating the participation. This is the 12th participation of Nepal and the 9th iteration managed by DNN.

The global tournament follows a three versus three WSDC format and each round lasts for an hour with a total of six main speeches and two reply speeches. Impromptu Points of Information (POIs) are exchanged during the main speeches and must be addressed by the speaker on the spot. 

The topics are referred to as motions and are considered to be proposed by the Government side in the Parliament. The motion for the Round of 16 was “This house regrets the narrative that money cannot buy happiness”. Out of the 3 judges, the Chair Judge voted in favor of Nepal, but that was not enough for Opposition Nepal to advance to the quarter-finals.

Head Coach Mr Acharya said “Our students exemplify that debating holds great potential in exposing students to multidisciplinary topics, building articulation, confidence and speaking skills, and producing well rounded individuals.”

He added, “Nepal’s achievement at this year world’s championship made me realize our ability to compete with the best debaters in the world and reinvigorated my hope that we will excel further at subsequent editions of the competition.”

Before their departure to Serbia, DNN had organized a Send-Off Ceremony for the Team at which the Team showcased a friendly debate against the 2023 Team among the debate community members, parents, and well-wishers. Following the debate, members of last year’s team, Ms. Alisha Ghimire, Mr. Abhinav Kumal, and Mr. Suyog Bardan Acharya, handed over the jerseys to the current Team, marking the send-off.

DNN plans to organize the 11th edition of MahaKumbha – the National Schools Debating Championship – in August this year to initiate the screening process for next year’s national team to represent the country at the Panama World Championship. Students up to Grade 12 and recent graduates are eligible to participate. The top 50 speakers at the tournament will be eligible to apply for the national camp.

Scotland beat Bulgaria on the Grand Finals of WSDC 2024 on Thursday. 

Link to Google Drive folder with press release and photos: Nepal at World Schools Debating Championships Serbia WSDC 2024 – Press Release and Photos
Link to WSDC 2024 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561327622329 
Link to Debate Network Nepal Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DebateNepal 
Link to Debate Network Nepal Instagram Page: www.instagram.com/debatenetworknepal 

Signed
Sashank Joshi 
Team Manager, Nepali National Debate Team 2024
Chair, Debate Network Nepal 
+977 986-4241068 | debate.dnn@gmail.com