For WIDPSC 2022 (World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship), which was held online by The Country Day School, Hong Kong sent a delegation of 12 students. At the Grand Finals held on April 17 (Sun), Nicholas Chung made a speech that outlines how we face death and terminal patient care; in the end, this heartfelt piece won Hong Kong the Champion in the Persuasive Speaking category, for the first time since Heather Pickerell in 2011.
GRAND FINALS VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/LXgx7e7EebQ?t=1135
Among 115 contestants from 13 countries, we had 9 students ranking in Top 35:
33rd – Charlie Lam (Island School)
33rd – Nicholas Chung (Diocesan Boys’ School)
31st – Hilary Lau (Diocesan Girls’ School)
25th – Peony Sham (Sha Tin College)
16th – Maria Katrina Flauta (Renaissance College Hong Kong)
10th – Lauren Ing (Chinese International School)
7th – Christine Lam (Hong Kong International School)
5th – Megan Chan (Renaissance College Hong Kong)
4th – Mark Lee (Diocesan Boys’ School)
The rank of 4th overall was also the highest rank achieved by a Hong Kong student since Madhav Menon in 2013. During Finals rounds on April 9-10, the team broke into 15 positions across all five categories, representing our city in public speaking — speeches both humorous and serious, dramatic prose reading and vigorous debating.
This has been the first year when EVERYTHING from the Trials to the competition had been held online without a single offline training, yet this team braved these circumstances to create the best results in recent years. Besides applauding their diligence in training every Sunday between the January trials and April competitions, we must also extend our thanks to the larger coaching team this year – Joan Cho, Lilian Chow, My Thanh Mac, Leo Zen, Kenneth Chan and our alumni Markandeya Karthik and Chloe Yeung.
In researching for this blurb, one looks back at the heydays of the early 2010s, when Hong Kong students were displaying their talent and verve at WIDPSC in similar capacity. Without the foundation built by the stalwart coaches and members back then, we would not be here. We take the results of today humbly and will continue to provide opportunities for youngsters of our city to speak on the international stage.
Much thanks must finally go to the gracious hosts at CDS, Ms Kerstin Wyndham West and Ms Tracey Scott, for making this tournament possible.
Sincerely,
Coaches of WIDPSC Hong Kong team
