Culture & Lifestyle
Nepali debate team among top 16 in world rankings
Previously ranked 40, team Nepal won five of the eight preliminary rounds.![Nepali debate team among top 16 in world rankings](https://assets-api.kathmandupost.com/thumb.php?src=https://assets-cdn.kathmandupost.com/uploads/source/news/2024/third-party/Untitled6-1721960345.jpg&w=900&height=601)
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For the first time in the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC), the Nepali National Debate Team advanced into the knockout rounds and reached the Round of 16.
The team ended its run at the 36th edition of the Championships, held in Belgrade, Serbia, after narrowly losing against Qatar in the Round of 16.
Team Nepal won five of the eight preliminary rounds 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, Nepal defeated the UAE in the Round of 32.
This performance meant that Team Nepal, previously ranked 40 in the World rankings, finished as one of the 16 countries out of the participating 68 countries.
The team comprises Bishwojeet Bista, Sadhabi Mahat, Sangya Pandey, and Sujal Khadka. Pragyan Kumar Acharya, a former National Team member and DNN Board Member, coaches the team.
Debate Network Nepal (DNN), the national debating body, facilitated the screening and participation. Himalayan Capital Pvt Ltd and Lumiere Education supported the team.
The Nepali team participated in the WSDC for the first time in Qatar in 2010, then in Scotland (2011) and Singapore (2015). Starting from the Germany WSDC in 2016, Debate Network Nepal facilitated participation. This is Nepal's 12th participation and the 9th iteration managed by DNN.