16 Feb 2026
Aspire Academy hosted and participated in the second event of the Qatar Preparatory Schools Debate League (QPSDL).
More than 200 students from 23 schools took part in the event, organised in collaboration with QatarDebate Center, under the umbrella of the Qatar Foundation.
The day consisted of three rounds of well-structured, passionate debate: two on impromptu topics and one on a prepared subject.
The highlight for Aspire Academy was grade 8 student-athlete Hamad Mohammed Al‑Riyahi, who plays squash, being awarded second place in the Best Qatari Speaker category.
Abdulaziz M. Binshamlan, Special Projects Lead at Qatar Debate, joined the closing ceremony and handed out awards to the day’s top performers.
He also presented the Qatar Debate Crystal to Aspire Academy in appreciation of their support of the event.
Aspire Academy’s School Vice Principal, Issa Al Moslemani, outlined why the Academy collaborates and competes in events such as the QPSDL.
“Organising debate events reflects our commitment to the holistic development of our student-athlete,” the vice-principal explained.
“Beyond athletic excellence, we aim to provide platforms that encourage intellectual engagement, critical thinking, and constructive dialogue.”
“Events such as these align with Aspire’s educational mission by fostering confident, well-rounded individuals who can articulate ideas thoughtfully, engage respectfully with differing perspectives, and represent themselves and their communities with clarity and integrity.”
He went on to explain the skills that participating student-athletes can develop.
“Debates help student-athletes develop a wide range of transferable skills, including analytical thinking, effective communication, and structured debating.”
“They also strengthen listening skills, teamwork, and the ability to respond calmly under pressure—qualities that are highly relevant both in competitive sport and in academic or professional environments.”
“Importantly, debating encourages discipline, respect for diverse viewpoints, and confidence in public speaking, all of which contribute positively to personal and leadership development.”
The QPSDL brings together schools from diverse educational backgrounds to compete in a professional, enriching environment.
It features four meetings during the academic year and aims to develop students’ critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, and leadership skills through structured competitive debating.
Each tournament serves as a qualifying round for the Qatar National Debating Championship. Participating schools earn points and rankings that determine their eligibility to advance to the championship.
Outstanding teams also have the opportunity to represent their schools — and Qatar — in regional and international debate competitions, competing against schools from around the world.