Doha, Jan. 11 (SANA) – For the very first time, Syria has entered the competitive arena of the 7th International Schools Debating Championship in Arabic (ISDC). Hosted at Texas A&M University at Qatar and organized by the Qatar Debates Center, this landmark event represents a significant effort to foster and enhance the oratorical and critical thinking skills of Syrian youth.
A Foundational Step in Doha
The Syrian delegation concluded its journey on Saturday after participating in five competitive rounds. While the team exited the tournament before the semifinals following two losses, the experience is being hailed as a vital foundational milestone for Syria on the global debating stage.
Rigorous Training and Selection
Reflecting on the achievement, Hamza AlSioufy, the Head of Syria’s Debates, stated to SANA: “This participation marks Syria’s first at this level.” AlSioufy further detailed that the team was formed through a demanding selection process, which was followed by an intensive eight-month training period to prepare the students for high-level competition.
From Online Qualifiers to the Global Stage
The path to the Doha finals was secured during the summer of 2025. In the international online qualifying rounds, the Syrian squad demonstrated exceptional skill by ranking second worldwide among 40 competing teams. This success follows a rapid growth in the field within the country; debating officially launched in Syria on April 1, 2025, marked by the inaugural national online schools debating championship held under the direct supervision of “Syria Debates”.
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