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MAD success at championships

20 August 2008

The Monash 1 team: Sashi Balaraman, Victor Finkel and Kiran Iyer

The Monash Association of Debaters (MAD) had great success at the recent 2008 Australasian Debating Championships, with Monash 1 contesting the Grand Final against the University of Sydney Union in the grandiose Meralco Theatre in Manila.

Although Sydney took out the title in a split decision, it was Monash University's best result since 2006 when it won the tournament in Wellington, New Zealand.

The Australasian Debating Championships is the largest debating tournament in the southern hemisphere, bringing together 400 students from countries such as Japan, Malaysia, China, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

This year Monash sent five teams and seven adjudicators to the event.

Monash hopes to go one better next year when it hosts the 35th Australasian Debating Championship in Melbourne from 2 to 10 July, 2009.

"This will be a fantastic opportunity for Monash students to take part in one of the most prestigious student competitions in the world, without limitations posed by travel," MAD convener Victor Finkel said.

"It will also be a fabulous opportunity to showcase Monash to representatives from across Asia."

Monash congratulates the Monash 1 team of Sashi Balaraman, Victor Finkel and Kiran Iyer.

The University also congratulates Monash B: Damien Brukard, Ravi Dutta, and Nita Rao who made the first round of finals and Monash judges Julian Campbell, Melissa Mateo, Colette Mintz and Fiona Prowse.