MIRI: A group of 16 students from Miri has returned from Singapore with 84 medals after competing in one of the region’s largest international academic competitions, reinforcing Sarawak’s growing reputation in global scholastic events.
The students, trained by Champs Education, won 45 gold and 39 silver medals at the 2026 regional round of the World Scholar’s Cup, held at Nexus International School on May 9 and 10.
More than 460 students from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia took part in the competition, which tests participants in debating, collaborative writing, critical thinking and general knowledge across multiple disciplines.
The Miri delegation competed in both the junior and senior divisions, with all 16 students qualifying for the next stage, the Shanghai Global Round in August.
Among the standout performers was Team 177, made up of Cherisse Shi Hyun Ling from SK St Joseph, Evangeline Zi Yue Voon from Sekolah Sri Knewton and Abbygail Jia Chee Kong from SJKC Chung Hua Miri.
The trio emerged as the top team in the junior “Ipaca” category, winning gold and placing 10th overall in the junior division.
Cherisse was named Champion Ipaca Scholar, while Abbygail and Evangeline finished second and third respectively in the individual rankings.
Another strong showing came from Team 179, comprising Solomon Tee Guan Lim from SJKC Chung Hua Miri, Nathan Sie-En Wong from Riam Hill International School and Addison Tiong Hong Chieng from SJKC Chung Hua Krokop.
The team secured second place in the Ipaca category and won gold in the Scholar’s Bowl event.
Team 180 also delivered one of the competition’s strongest performances, finishing sixth overall in the junior division.
The team, represented by Candace Shi En Ling from Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang and brothers Joshua Jia Soon Lim and Jerome Jia Rong Lim from SM Sri Knewton, collected multiple gold medals across debate, Scholar’s Bowl and challenge events.
Candace was among the competition’s highest-ranked individual participants, placing seventh overall scholar and third overall debater.
Team 178, consisting of Andrea Kah Sin Liew from SM Pei Min, Essac Khai Kiing Wong and Zara Wei Lee from SM Sri Knewton, also qualified for the global round after strong performances in debate and Scholar’s Bowl events.
In the senior category, Team 237, comprising Constanz Renee Lim and Valencia Yu Tong Lai from SM Pei Min and Iann Yi Teng Lau from SMK Lutong, earned gold in the Team Scholar’s Bowl and silver in Team Debate.
Constanz also secured gold medals in both Individual Debate and Collaborative Writing.
Another senior participant, Emmeline Zhi Xuan Tan from SMK Chung Hua CF Miri, contributed further success with gold in Team Debate and silver medals in Scholar’s Bowl and Individual Debate.
The students will now prepare for the Shanghai Global Round, where they will compete against qualifiers from around the world for a place at the prestigious Tournament of Champions hosted by Yale University.
