Ateneo wins World Universities Debating Championship

David Africa (4 BS Applied Mathematics) & Tobi Leung (2 BS Applied Mathematics) of Ateneo A won the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) 2023 on the night of January 3, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

It is the first time ever that a team from the Philippines or Southeast Asia has won this prestigious tournament. Among those bested by Ateneo A were teams from Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, National University of Singapore, and London School of Economics.

In addition, Leung was named 2nd best speaker, while Africa was ranked 8th.     

Dr Marlu Vilches, Vice President for the Loyola Schools and OIC for the Professional Schools extends her greetings: “I warmly congratulate David Africa and Tobi Leung for emerging as the first ever Filipino and Southeast Asia champions of the World Universities Debating Championship. May your historic achievement inspire more students to scale ever higher heights of excellence for the betterment of our nation and of the world in these challenging times.” 

University President Fr. Roberto C Yap SJ says, “My heartfelt congratulations to David Africa and Tobi Leung of our Ateneo Debate Society on their unprecedented, inspiring victory at the World Universities Debating Championship. Their win is proof that our debaters can stand head and shoulders above their peers from some of the best universities in the world. Thank you, David and Tobi, for the immense pride you have brought to the Ateneo community, to our nation, and to the Southeast Asia region. Ad majorem Dei gloriam!”    

WUDC was held from December 27, 2022 to January 3, 2023 in Madrid, Spain, attracting more than 260 debate teams from all over the globe.