On the early morning, of February 29th, 9:30 to be more precise, it was a sunny day or maybe it wasn’t, does it really matter? What matters is the weather inside the room and I’m happy to report that it was heated. Three International Speech contestants, five Table Topics contestants, and the chairs Binisha Shrestha and Sagar KC, what more could you ask for?
We kicked off with the Table Topics Contest hosted by Toastmaster Binisha from KU-SOM Toastmasters. The formal rules that were announced were in stark contrast to the sweet and bubbly charm that our contest chair exuded.
As the contestants were led out, the topic was announced, “9:30 is too early”. One by one, the contestants: Toastmasters Siddhartha Budathoki from Laxmi Bank Toastmasters, Shreya Ghimire from KU-SOM Toastmasters, Surendra Bahadur KC from ACAN Toastmasters, Purushottam Malik from SAIM Toastmasters, and Niraj Khadka from Baneshwor Toastmasters entered the room and entranced the audience with their cleverly crafted impromptu monologues.
Following tradition, the contestants were then lined up for the interview session. Toastmaster Binisha skillfully fired off questions that helped us know the contestants better and entertained the audience. As the Table Topics Contest drew to an end, the audience cheered as your friendly neighborhood host entered the stage again. Although I’m fairly certain I recall hoots and cheers, the audience accounts might differ.
Starting off the International Speech Competition: Toastmasters Subrath Poudel showed us the light at the end of the tunnel with his speech “End of a rut”, Toastmaster Dipesh Chalise had the audience in laughing fits with his speech “Find those shoes,” and Toastmaster Alfa M. Shakya had us guessing what was in the box with her speech “Open the box”.
Soon after, the contestants were lined up for the interview session. Your Co-chair, Sagar KC, delivered some punchlines managing to get a few chuckles out of the audience. (I’m told the contestants’ answers were funnier. But they aren’t the ones reporting!)
Behind the scenes, our very own Area Director Toastmaster Avish Acharya was working silently and diligently as the Chief judge as well as the moral and managerial support for this contest. Once the ballots had been collected and counted, it was time to announce the winners.
With a round of applause, the audience cheered on as KU-SOM Toastmasters bagged both prizes. Toastmaster Shreya Ghimire won the Table Topics contest and Toastmaster Alfa M. Shakya won the International Speech Contest.
Following close behind was Laxmi Bank Toastmasters Club who cashed in at the second position in both the contests: Toastmaster Siddhartha Budathoki for Table Topics and Toastmaster Dipesh Chalise for International Speech Contest. In the third place was Toastmaster Surendra Bahadur KC from ACAN Toastmasters for Table Topics and Toastmaster Subrath Poudel from Baneshwor Toastmasters for International Speech Contest.
All in all, the Area contest was successful. You kinda had to be there!
by Sagar KC, Area A5 Secretary and Jigyasa Bajracharya
Published in Inkspire Issue 3. Click here for the full newsletter.