SUNDO 2025:
BAC Debaters Gain Experience
at Prestigious Online Tournament

The Sunway Debate Open (SUNDO) 2025 took place on 26th and 27th July 2025, bringing together debaters from across Asia in an online format hosted on Zoom and Discord. Known for its competitive line-up and as a pre-Asian British Parliamentary (ABP) event, the tournament offered a challenging yet rewarding experience for all participants.

Competition Format

SUNDO adopted the British Parliamentary (BP) style, where four teams (2v2v2v2) compete in each round, with rankings from 1st to 4th place determining points. A team earns 3 points for 1st place, 2 points for 2nd, 1 point for 3rd, and none for 4th.

This year’s cap line-up featured experienced adjudicators such as Jeremiah Edagbami, Kyle Go, Rdu Dillon, Namita Pandey and Eitan Loo, setting a high standard for debates throughout the weekend.

BAC Participants

BAC was proudly represented by two teams:

• BAC A: Christine (21637) and Aiman (21853)
• BAC B: Aaron (D07240006) and Karishma (23463)

Both teams underwent intensive preparation, including internal sparring sessions and friendly matches with other institutions. These efforts honed their skills and readied them for the highly competitive environment.

The Competition Experience

Day 1 – Preliminary Rounds

Day 1 featured four rounds, including a silent round where results were only revealed after the break announcements. Both BAC A and BAC B performed commendably, ending the day with 4 points each.

Day 2 – Final Preliminary & Breaks

The final preliminary round was held on Day 2, after which the break to elimination rounds was announced. While both BAC teams put up strong performances, they narrowly missed the break, with BAC A finishing on 6 points and BAC B on 5 points.

Achievements and Recognition

Despite not breaking to eliminations, the tournament was a significant learning milestone. Both teams highlighted the event’s value in sharpening critical thinking, argumentation and teamwork.

Special recognition goes to BAC B, with both members earning spots among the Top Novice Speakers:

• Karishma: 13th Best Novice Speaker
• Aaron: 17th Best Novice Speaker

Participating in SUNDO 2025 was an opportunity to engage with debaters from diverse backgrounds and to test skills in a high-level environment. With SUNDO serving as a pre-ABP platform, it provided invaluable exposure and experience as BAC teams look ahead to future tournaments in the Asian debating circuit.

If you would like to join BAC’s Debate Club, we welcome passionate, curious minds ready to sharpen their speaking skills, challenge ideas, and engage in thought-provoking discussions.

Stay tuned for upcoming meetings, events, and opportunities to represent BAC in debate arenas!