Breaking Records and Shaping Futures: Asia Junior Championships - Debate (Winter Edition)
02 February 2024
EduDrift made history on January 27-28 by hosting one of its flagship events, the Asia Junior Championships – Debate (Winter Edition) 2024. The two-day tournament proudly invited 45 distinguished adjudicators, and engaged 222 young and brilliant debaters aged 7 to 13 from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. With 74 teams competing, no other junior debating tournament has seen this massive number of participants, which is why we are filled with great excitement and pride as we declare this event the biggest junior debate championship in the the world.
With a total of 222 debater-participants, this edition of the competition surpassed all previous records in junior debate championships, thus earning its title as the largest junior championships in the world thus far. The unprecedented level of participation highlighted the growing enthusiasm and interest among young debaters to engage in constructive dialogue and hone their skills in the art of persuasion.
Asia Junior Championships is held annually and serves as the premier mid-year debating competition for elementary school-aged students throughout the expansive Asia Pacific region. Being one of the flagship tournaments of EduDrift, it is recognized and supported by various schools and institutions in the region. The following educational institutions graced the event this year:
Abbotsleigh
Barker College
Cranbrook School
Hurlstone Agricultural High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School
Melbourne Grammar
Meriden School
MLC School
Pymble Ladies’ College
Pymble Ladies’ College Croydon
Shore School
St. Andrew’s Cathedral
Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Grammar Edgecliff Prep School
Sydney Grammar School
The King’s School
The Knox Grammar School
The Scots College
Trinity Grammar Prep School
Wenona
The caliber of debates witnessed during the two-day tournament was nothing short of extraordinary. The participants, many of whom are budding debaters, displayed a level of sophistication and intellectual rigor that belied their age. As such, we would like to extend our sincerest appreciation and congratulations to participants that persevered through multiple elimination rounds in pursuit of the coveted Champion and Finals Best Speaker titles for their respective age cohort and categories.
Champions (13-and-Under Main Category)
- Ein Chung, Seoul Foreign School
- Rachael Park, Korea International School (Finals Best Speaker)
- Lauren Park, Korea International School
Champions (13-and-Under Rookie Category)
- Rishaan Sethi, Step by Step School, Noida
- Vedika Babbar, Step by Step School, Noida (Finals Best Speaker)
- Aabha Talwar, Step by Step School, Noida
Champions (12-and-Under Main Category)
- Min Joon Cho, Abgujung Elementary School (Finals Best Speaker)
- Curie Yum, Seoul Daegok Elementary School
- Adelina Yoo, Abgujung Elementary School
Champions (12-and-Under Rookie Category)
- Sihyun Park, North London Collegiate School (Finals Best Speaker)
- Hyoryn Park, North London Collegiate School
- Heedan Zun, North London Collegiate School (Finals Best Speaker)
Champions (11-and-Under Category)
- Max Meng, Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School
- Justin Huang, YK Pao School (Finals Best Speaker)
- Cherry Shi, Shanghai Singapore International School
Champions (10-and-Under Category)
- Robinson Zhang, Hangzhou Bay Bilingual School
- Rosalyn Chen, British International School Shanghai (Finals Best Speaker)
- Johnny Yang, Shanghai United International School
We also recognize other outstanding debaters who won their hard-earned awards in other various categories, putting on a strong show throughout the cutthroat competition.
Finalists
Grandfinalists
Annabelle YD, Seoul International School
Yunseong Kim, Korea International School Jeju
Sophia Yunchae Park, North London Collegiate School Jeju
Semifinalists
Yeonseo Shin, Seoul International School
Jinwoo Choi, Chadwick International School
Vivien Gong, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Rochelle Tao, Meriden School
Deborah Leong, Wenona
Helena Tuo, Pymble Ladies’ College Croydon
Quarterfinalists
Elisa Min, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Emily Whang, Chadwick International School
Stella Choi, Hanyang Elementary School
Yewon Kim, Korea International School
Ian Choi, Dulwich College Seoul
Ryan Paik, Seoul International School
Rachel Kim, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Aiden Yoon, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Onew Choi, Korea Liberal Art School
Jayden Kim, Korea International School
Daniel Kwon, Korea International School
Jaehoon Jung, Seoul Boedle Elementary
Octofinalists
Yejun Yoon, Seoul International School
Juwon Hong, Hanyang Elementary
Minsung Chin, Seoul International School
Seohyun Jung, Charterhouse International School Malaysia
Hoyun Choi, Daegu International School
Juha Kim, Benton Middle School
Weirou Emily Cen
Ho Ching Chan
Chun Ting Ling
Eugene, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Julian Sung, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Ian Kil, Chadwick International School
David Lee, Seoul International School
Jacob Sung, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Woojin Cho, Seoul International School
Ryan Cha, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Olivia Jiahn Suh, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Riwon Hong, North London Collegiate School Jeju
Seowoo Park, North London Collegiate School Jeju
Yeonju, North London Collegiate School Jeju
Yeonsun Chung, North London Collegiate School Jeju
William Chen, The Scots College
Peter Wang, Cranbrook School
Matthew Zhang, Barker College
Best Speakers per Age Category
Top 10 Best Speakers
Overall Best: Ein Chung, Seoul Foreign School
2nd Best: Rachael Park, Korea International School
3rd Best: Ryan Cha, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-4th Best: Olivia Jiahn Suh, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-4th Best: Eugene, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-4th Best: Weirou Emily Cen
5th Best: David Lee, Seoul International School
Co-6th Best: Rachel Kim, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-6th Best: Julian Sung, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-6th Best: Yunseong Kim, Korea International School Jeju
7th Best: Ho Ching Chan
Co-8th Best: Aiden Yoon, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-8th Best: Daniel Kwon, Korea International School
Co-9th Best: Yewon Kim, Korea International School
Co-9th Best: Sophia Yunchae Park, North London Collegiate School Jeju
Co-9th Best: Jacob Sung, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-9th Best: Woojin Cho, Seoul International School
Co-9th Best: Yejun Yoon, Seoul International School
Co-10th Best: Elisa Min, Yongsan International School of Seoul
Co-10th Best: Ayaan Rai, Sydney Grammar School
Best Speakers per Region
Top 10 Best Speakers
Overall Best: Aayaan Aggarwal, Woodstock School Mussoorie
2nd Best: Kieara Gupta, Step By Step School, Noida
Co-3rd Best: Hinayaa Gurnani, Oberoi International School, OGC
Co-3rd Best: Rohin Jain, Step by Step School, Noida
4th Best: Arshia Jain, Step By Step School, Noida
Co-5th Best: Ryan Rawall, Delhi Public School Noida
Co-5th Best: Rishaan Sethi, Step by Step School, Noida
Co-6th Best: Shaurya Vaish, Pathways School Noida
Co-6th Best: Vedant Jain, Genesis Global School
Co-7th Best: Aviraj Sehgal, Bangkok Patana School
Co-7th Best: Vedika Babbar, Step by Step School, Noida
Co-7th Best: Aabha Talwar, Step by Step School, Noida
Co-8th Best: Alex Xu, United World College of South East Asia
Best Speakers per Country
Top 3 Best Speakers
Overall Best: Ein Chung, Seoul Foreign School
2nd Best: Rachael Park, Korea International School
3rd Best: Lauren Park, Korea International School
Watch some of the debates directly below:
Once more, we extend our appreciation to the participants, observers, and adjudicators who made this significant milestone possible. As the echoes of the Asia Juniors gradually fade, we find ourselves eagerly looking forward to what is in store for this tournament and for all the young debaters who graced the virtual stage with their remarkable talents. May the skills, experiences, and connections formed during this event serve as stepping stones toward a future where their voices, informed perspectives, and persuasive prowess contribute significantly to the betterment of our global discourse.