The Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Chinese Debate Team delivered an outstanding performance at the 2025 Shanghai Cup Chinese Debate Championship · National Day Online Special Event (Open Division), advancing to the quarterfinals and finishing among the top eight teams nationwide.
Team Lineup and Guidance
The DKU team comprised Yuheng Liu, Suheng Mao, Kaiyun Ren, Xinya Wu, Wenxin Xu, Yuxin Ye, and Canran Zhang, who also served as team leader. The team was coached by Professor Yili Zhang, whose guidance played a key role in their success.
Group Stage: Strategic Thinking and Steady Performance
The group stage centered on the topic “The advancement of technology in education intensifies educational anxiety” versus “The advancement of technology in education alleviates educational anxiety.”
Over two rounds held on October 1 and 3, DKU demonstrated strong analytical skills and teamwork, ultimately ranking second in their group to advance to the Open Division quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals: A Close and Courageous Contest
In the quarterfinals on October 5, DKU debated as the proposition against the experienced Beiming Debate Team 2 on the motion “After achieving success, one should end a seemingly unequal relationship” versus “After achieving success, one should not end a seemingly unequal relationship.”
Despite a narrow loss, DKU’s performance earned them a place among the top eight teams in the competition.
Honors and Recognition
In addition to the team’s collective success, debater Canran Zhang was named one of the tournament’s Top Ten Speakers, recognizing his outstanding individual performance.
Looking Ahead
The DKU Chinese Debate Team’s achievement at the 2025 Shanghai Cup reflects the university’s commitment to critical inquiry, articulate expression, and intellectual engagement. The team will continue to refine their skills and represent DKU in future competitions across China and beyond.