IIUM debate teams set a blazing trail at Oxford, Cambridge and Durham IVs

In November, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) sent two teams to the United Kingdom to compete in all three intervarsity (IV) tournaments, which were held back-to-back.

Drawing in a steady stream of participants from renowned institutions, the annual oratory tournaments are among the toughest and most prestigious in the world. 

The competition format splits participants into two language categories, ESL (English as Second Language) and the Open category, for native English speakers. Although both IIUM teams were originally registered as ESL, IIUM (A) managed to outrank many Open teams and in the end, found themselves being bumped up to compete in the more challenging category.

All debates were held in the British Parliamentary format, pitching four teams against each other in every round.

IIUM (A), represented by third-year law student Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, 20, and second-year economics student Mubarrat Wassey, 22, steamrolled through the Open category and made it to the quarter-finals of both Oxford and Cambridge competitions, successfully shocking everyone who were not expecting such a show from the underdogs. 

In Durham, IIUM (A) created history by being the first Malaysian team to make it to the grand finals (Open category) of a UK intervarsity tournament.