Ameera Natasha named best speaker in Cambridge debate tournament


Ameera delivering a speech at another debate tournament in Singapore.

PETALING JAYA: International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) student Ameera Natasha Moore has been named best overall speaker in the recently concluded Cambridge University Women's Debate Open.

In receiving the award, the third-year law student outranked debaters from renowned institutions including Oxford University, Durham University, Trinity College Dublin, University College London, Vienna University, Berlin University, St Andrews University, Warwick University, the London School of Economics and Tel Aviv University among others.

Ameera, 21, and her team-mate from IIUM, Sara Rahim, 19, were the highest ranked team in the tournament, also known as The Norton Rose Fulbright Cambridge Women's Open, after accumulating the most speaker points in all four preliminary rounds.  

However, IIUM bowed out in the four-way semi-finals knock-out round against Trinity College Dublin and two teams from Oxford University. 

The ranking is just another cap in Ameera's impressive international debate resume.

Ameera is also a two-time English as a Second Language (ESL) winner of the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championship, the champion and overall best speaker of the Asian English Olympics Debate Tournament 2014, and an ESL semi-finalist of the prestigious World Universities Debating Championship 2014 held in India.

Apart from being crowned this year's Malaysian Royal National Debating Champion, the Sekolah Seri Puteri alumna has also accumulated a long list of trophies from various local tournaments.

"I feel great. I definitely was not expecting (the ranking) as I knew the competition was tough! Yet at the same time, I feel satisfied because being one of the only Asian teams there and to dispel the myth that women can't talk about sports or international relations, was an experience I'll never forget," Ameera told The Star Online.

Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Nation

DLP ball back in schools’ court
Michelle Yeoh to get highest US civilian award
The Star bags MDA Award for awareness on health gadgets
Mufti: Wrong to boycott KK Mart
Grandson seeking to unmask man behind the face mask
We’re with you all the way, guys
Dzul: Health Ministry will review any measures for schools
Master AI to shape own moral values, cultural impact in technology, says PM
KKB polls: Pakatan’s Pang launches five-point manifesto
Govt to announce news on housing issue involving five estates in Bestari Jaya soon, says Nga

Others Also Read