Rayansh Prasad Bhargava and his teammates Habib Azar and Anav Dey claimed victory at the premier academic competition, the NYC Urban Debate League Novice Championship, held on Apr. 5.
Every year, the event draws the brightest young minds across New York City and creates equitable access to academic debate opportunities with a focus on students of color and students from historically underserved communities in the New York City. According to NYC Urban Debate League’s official portal, it strives to empower the next generation of diverse, informed, and courageous leaders.
The championship was open only to top-ranked students who advanced through five rigorous qualifying rounds. Elite debaters from both public and private schools citywide participated in the event.
The participants tackled pressing contemporary issues, ranging from cash bail reform and civil disobedience to tourism taxes. They crafted arguments for both sides with only 20 minutes of preparation time per round, testing knowledge, endurance and adaptability.
Bhargava’s team entered the elimination stage as the top seed in the voice division and maintained their momentum with a thrilling series of victories. They won the quarterfinals (2-1), the semifinals by unanimous decision, and clinched the championship title in the final round.
In the NYC Urban Debate League Novice Championship, Bhargava also earned individual recognition as the 4th Best Speaker overall, which reflected his dedication, skill, and countless hours of preparation.
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