Celebrating Excellence: Asia Schools Open - Asian 3v3 Debate (Winter Edition)
26 January 2024
On January 20-21, EduDrift overcame geographic limitations via Zoom and invited adjudicators with distinguished debating and adjudicating careers to present Asia Schools Open – Asian 3v3 Debate (Winter Edition). It is with great joy and admiration that we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the 138 brilliant debaters aged 12 to 18 from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea who made this tournament not only possible, but also an unforgettable success.
The heart and soul of any debate tournament lies in the skillful art of persuasion, where participants wield their words like weapons in a friendly intellectual warfare. Asia Schools Open showcased an impressive array of talents, with debaters eloquently articulating their thoughts, challenging perspectives, and engaging in thought-provoking discourse. With a zeal for debating, teams battled their way through the elimination rounds to earn the prestigious Champion titles for their respective age cohort and categories.
We extend heartfelt congratulations to the following debaters for taking home the Championship titles in this year’s edition of Asia Schools Open – Asian 3v3 Debate (Winter Edition).
Champions (18-and-Under Category)
- Evey Firth, United World College of South East Asia
- Kaitlyn Song, United World College of South East Asia
- Xiaoyao Lu, United World College of South East Asia
Champions (16-and-Under Category)
- Dain Lee, Asia Pacific International School Seoul
- Seungmin Lee, Chadwick International
- Dahee Jeong, Dolma High School
Champions (15-and-Under Category)
- Jacob Christopher Budiman, ACS International Singapore
- Jayden Christian Budiman, ACS International Singapore
- Audrey Effendi, ACS International Singapore
Champions (14-and-Under Category)
- Jeremy Yin, World Foreign Language Academy
- Lachlon Wang, Shanghai High School International Division
- Titian Wu, Shanghai American School
Champions (13-and-Under Category)
- Rachael Park, Korea International School
- Lauren Park, Korea International School
- Ein Chung, Seoul Foreign School
Champions (12-and-Under Category)
- Isabel.X. Wu
- Junjia Liu, Guangzhou Zhongshan 3rd Primary School
- Jerry Ni, Nanjing Foreign Language School
The ability to navigate through complex topics with grace and precision is a testament to the dedication and hard work invested by each participant. As such, we also recognize the following debaters for bagging the Finals Best Speaker awards in their respective age cohort:
Finals Best Speaker (18-and-Under Category)
- Kaitlyn Song, United World College of South East Asia
- Evey Firth, United World College of South East Asia
Finals Best Speaker (16-and-Under Category)
- Kitty Jiang, United Nations International School
Finals Best Speaker (15-and-Under Category)
- Audrey Effendi, ACS International Singapore
Finals Best Speaker (14-and-Under Category)
- Lachlon Wang, Shanghai High School International Division
Finals Best Speaker (13-and-Under Category)
- Ein Chung, Seoul Foreign School
Finals Best Speaker (12-and-Under Category)
- Isabel.X. Wu
In addition, other equally brilliant debaters received well-deserved awards across various categories, showcasing an impressive performance throughout the competitive tournament.
Finalists
Grandfinalists
Angus Martinez, Riverview
Thomas Doyle, Riverview
Alexander Bradley, Riverview
Semifinalists
Ryan Qin, Trinity Grammar School Sydney
Justin Qin, Barker College
Dana Moas, Sydney Girls’ High School
Yulin Pan, Shenzhen Nanshan Huitong School
Hanzhang Liu, Sendelta International Academy
Crystal Liao, Sendelta International Academy
Quarterfinalists
Haruto Fukuda, Seiko Gakuin High School
Kei Fukiage, Seiko Gakuin High School
Harumichi Kikuno, Seiko Gakuin High School
Jiseo Lee, Busan International Middle School
Leanne Yoon, Daegu International School
Annie (Yewon) Cho, Daegu International School
Kaho Shimada, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
Tatsuhiro Iwamoto, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
Konatsu Mimura, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
Felix Mutinelli, Churchie
Caelan Smith, Churchie
Finbar Curran, Churchie
Best Speakers by Age Category
Top 10 Best Speakers
Overall Best: Justin Qin, Barker College
2nd Best: Thomas Doyle, Riverview
Co-3rd Best: Leanne Yoon, Daegu International School
Co-3rd Best: Yulin Pan, Shenzhen Nanshan Huitong School
Co-3rd Best: Kaitlyn Song, United World College of South East Asia
4th Best: Angus Martinez, Riverview
Co-5th Best: Finbar Curran, Churchie
Co-5th Best: Felix Mutinelli, Churchie
6th Best: Aya Fujii, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
7th Best: Aoi Furutani, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
8th Best: Hanzhang Liu, Sendelta International Academy
Co-9th Best: Saki Sudo, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
Co-9th Best: Shunya Sasaki, Utsunomiya High School
Co-9th Best: Harumichi Kikuno, Seiko Gakuin High School
Co-10th Best: Aina Eriksson, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
Co-10th Best: Kaho Shimada, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School
Best Speakers by Region
Top 10 Best Speakers
Overall Best: Jayden Christian Budiman, ACS International Singapore
2nd Best: Audrey Effendi, ACS International Singapore
3rd Best: Kaitlyn Song, United World College of South East Asia
4th Best: Evey Firth, United World College of South East Asia
5th Best: Xiaoyao Lu, United World College of South East Asia
6th Best: Jacob Christopher Budiman, ACS International Singapore
7th Best: Cindy You, Saint Joseph’s Institution International Singapore
8th Best: Sean Danuseputra, Sekolah Pelita Harapan Lippo Village
9th Best: Matthew Ali, Sekolah Pelita Harapan Lippo Village
10th Best: Ava Mikayla Emmanoelle Kasih, IPEKA Integrated Christian School
Best Speakers by Country
Top 3 Best Speakers
Overall Best: Justin Qin, Barker College
2nd Best: Thomas Doyle, Riverview
3rd Best: Dana Moas, Sydney Girls’ High School
Watch some of the debates directly below:
Asia Schools Open remains to be the premier debating tournament held annually for middle and high school students across the Asia Pacific region. As a flagship debating competition, it has established itself as a crucial event on the academic calendar that is recognized and supported by various schools and institutions in the region. This year, the event was graced with the presence of the following schools and institutions across the Asia Pacific region:
Barker College
Churchie
Fort Street High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School
Knox Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar
Meriden School
Pymble Ladies’ College
Riverview
Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview
Sydney Boys’ High School
Sydney Girls’ High School
Sydney Grammar School
Trinity Grammar School Sydney
University of Sydney
Wenona
While honing their debating skills in different institutions, these debaters all embody key traits that distinguish them as winners, including the ability to think on their feet, the ability to articulate compelling arguments, and the grace to effectively counter their opponents. Looking forward, we eagerly anticipate the continued growth and contributions of these young debaters, as they undoubtedly represent the future voices of reasoned discourse and persuasive advocacy. Their dedication to honing their skills and engaging in meaningful dialogue fills us with optimism for the profound impact they will undoubtedly make in the realms of academia, public discourse, and beyond. We take pride in their accomplishments thus far and eagerly look forward to witnessing the further blossoming of their intellect and eloquence in future debates.