The Raffles Debaters

Our club seeks to nurture critical thinking and a passion for knowledge in all of our club members, regardless of debating background. We hope to equip our debaters with intellectual dexterity, enhanced speaking skills, and a more perceptive view of the world around us, competencies that will serve you well in both academic pursuits and beyond. However, in the spirit of championing our oft-espoused principles on the importance of an informed choice free from coercion, it is my civic duty to inform you that debating is more than just loud arguing, and it is certainly not easy. It is often trying, and mentally fatiguing. But at the same time, it is immensely rewarding, a transformative experience, and truly, a worthy tradeoff. After all, (not to confuse causation with correlation, but) as the oldest CCA in RI (founded in 1886!) with a strong tradition of excellence, producing luminaries who have gone on to contribute to Singapore such as former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Professor Tommy Koh, we must be doing something right!

2022

MOE Intercollegiates Debating Championships 2022
Champions: Cayden Ong Xiang Jun, Chua Yanxin (Finals Best Speaker), Kaveri Selvan Tarun, Sarrah Rose Binte Mikhail Leung, Trevor Lee Jia Jin (7th Best Speaker)
Semifinalists: Alldon Garren Tan, Chelcia Hon Lexuan, Goh Su En, Loh Chee Seng Elgin, Ryan Chia Ming Yin

Infernus Cup 2022
Champions: Cayden Ong Xiang Jun (Overall Best Speaker), Teo Sui Leng, Lara Tan Rui-Qi, Lau Ian Kai Ethan, Samuel Benedict Silveries Mathias
Semifinalists: Ajith Sreelekshmi, Calista Por Li Sze, Goh Xinying Cassandra, Manogaran Shobhana Shree, Tan Gin Juat (Chen Renyue)

NUS Students’ Political Association (NUSPA) Debate Series 2022
Runners-Up: Ajith Sreelekshmi, Chelcia Hon Lexuan, Chua Yanxin (2nd Best Speaker), Kaveri Selvan Tarun, Ryan Chia Ming Yin
Semifinalists: Alldon Garden Tan (5th Best Speaker), Goh Su En, Loh Chee Seng Elgin, Sarrah Rose binte Mikhail Leung, Trevor Lee Jia Jin

8th Oldham Cup 2022
Open High School Semifinalists: Alldon Garren Tan, Chelcia Hon Lexuan, Goh Su En, Ryan Chia Ming Yin, Trevor Lee Jia Jin
Open High School Octofinalists: Chua Yanxin (5th Best High School Speaker), Kaveri Selvan Tarun, Loh Chee Seng Elgin, Sarrah Rose Binte Mikhail Leung, Zhao Jiankai

World Schools Debating Championships 2022
Two members of the national team (which placed overall third) were from Raffles Institution: Hui Zhou Rong Isaiah (Xu Zhourong), Raphael Niu Zi Yuan (7th Best Speaker)

Raffles Debate Academy Under-14 Debating Championship 2022
Organised and facilitated a debate competition for Secondary 1 and 2 students from 28 secondary schools nationwide. 

Adjudication
Our club members adjudicated at the following tournaments: 
- Wits and Words Inter-School Debate Championship
- Debate Association (Singapore) Debating Championships
- Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championship
- 8th Oldham Cup 2022

2021

Thoburn Cup
● Participation: Min Sitt Hman (5th Best Speaker), Grace Elizabeth Ho, Samyuktha Pugalanthi, Brandon Tay Kai Feng, Samyuktha Pugalanthi, Phebe Lew Yu, Samyak Jain , Russell Choy Chern-en, Ong Yen Hng Elden

International Public Policy Forum
● Top 64: Grace Elizabeth Ho, Ong Yen Hng Elden, Russell Choy Chern-en, Tan Boon Jun Benedict, Samyuktha Pugalanthi
● Participation: Min Sitt Hman, Phebe Lew Yu, Samyak Jain, Clara Tan Yi Shan, Brandon Tay Kai Feng

NTU Pro-Ams Debating Championship
● Semifinalists: Samyak Jain (Best Speaker), Phebe Lew Yu (5th Best Speaker)
● Participation: Brandon Tay Kai Feng, Tan Boon Jun Benedict

Women’s Register – NUS Debating Championships 
● Champions: Grace Elizabeth Ho (Best Speaker), Ong Yen Hng Elden (5th Best Speaker), Phebe Lew Yu (8th Best Speaker)
● Runner-Up: Min Sitt Hman (3rd Best Speaker), Russell Choy Chern-En (6th Best Speaker)

Singapore International Schools Debating League
● Participation: Ong Yen Hng Elden (5th Best Speaker),  Min Sitt Hman (8th Best Speaker), Tan Boon Jun Benedict, Danita Shayna Leong Kar Yan, Russell Choy Chern-En, Samyuktha Pugalanthi, Clara Tan Yi Shan, Brandon Tay Kai Feng, Phebe Lew Yew, Samyak Jain

Cambridge Asia British Parliamentary Debating Championship
● Quarterfinalists: Min Sitt Hman (5th Best Speaker), Grace Elizabeth Ho
● Participation: Samyak Jain, Phebe Lew Yu, Samyuktha Pugalanthi, Ong Yen Hng Elden

International Debate Weekend
● Participation: Ryan Chia, Chua Yanxin, Alldon Garren Tan, Trevor Lee Jia Jin, Kaveri Selvan Tarun

NUS Students' Political Association Debate Series
● Champions: Min Sitt Hman (4th Best Schools Speaker), Samyak Jain (Best Finals Speaker), Samyuktha Pugalanthi, Elden Ong, Clara Tan Yi Shan
● Semifinalists: Russell Choy (7th Best Schools Speaker), Brandon Tay, Chelcia Hon, Sarrah Rose Mikhail Leung, Goh Su En

Oldhams Cup
● Octofinalists: Min Sitt Hman (Best Senior Speaker), Grace Elizabeth Ho (3rd Best Senior Speaker), Samyak Jain, Phebe Lew Yu, Samyuktha Pugalanthi, Ong Yen Hng Elden, Sarrah Rose Mikhail Leung, Trevor Lee Jia Jin, Loh Chee Seng Elgin, Goh Su En

MOE Intercollegiate Debating Championships
● Quarterfinalists: Samyak Jain (2nd Best Speaker), Min Sitt Hman, Phebe Lew Yu, Samyuktha Pugalanthi, Sarrah Rose Mikhail Leung, Trevor Lee Jia Jin, Loh Chee Seng Elgin, Chua Yanxin, Alldon Garren Tan, Goh Su En

Asians Youth British Parliamentary
● Participation: Chelcia Hon, Teo Sui Leng, Lara Tan Rui Qi, Kaveri Selvan Tarun, Prisha Ramesh Babu, Ryan Chia

World Schools Debating Championship
● One of five national team members is from Raffles Institution: Tajei Han Puthucheary

Raffles Debate Academy Under-14s Debating Championship
● Organised a debate competition for 32 secondary schools nationwide

Pro Bono Coaching
● Partnership with Canberra Primary School

Adjudication
● Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championship
● Debate Association (Singapore) Debating Championships
● Hua Yi Debating Championships