Sophia Wins Gold at the EurAsian Schools Debating Championship as Part of Team Romania
Sophia, a Year 10 student at the British School of Bucharest, has won Gold at the EurAsian Schools Debating Championship (ESDC) 2026 in Istanbul as a member of the Romanian National Debate Team.
The competition
The championship brought together 72 teams from 14 countries, marking a historic outcome for Romania, which secured first, second and third place overall. Competing at this level required students to engage with complex motions and demonstrate high levels of analytical thinking, collaboration and clear communication.
Sophia’s contribution
Sophia was an active member of the winning team, debating in six of the nine rounds, including the qualifying stages and the Quarterfinal. As the youngest member of the national delegation, she also supported her team during the later stages of the competition, contributing to preparation and strategy through the framing and structuring of arguments in the Semifinal and the Grand Final.
This achievement marked Sophia’s first international debating competition of this scale. International debating competitions demand intellectual rigour, adaptability and confidence, skills developed through sustained academic challenge and meaningful co-curricular engagement within an international school environment.
At the British School of Bucharest, students are encouraged to apply their learning beyond the classroom and engage with academic opportunities on an international stage. Sophia’s achievement reflects the breadth of experiences available to students in a top private school setting. We are proud of Sophia’s achievement and wish her continued success as she progresses in her debating journey.
