Here is a polished English translation of the Chinese title: **Extra Gum Rejoins PKU “Weiming Cup” to Help Debaters “Chew Their Way to a Relaxed and Confident State”** Alternatively, a more concise version: **Extra Gum Teams Up with PKU’s “Weiming Cup” Again, Empowering Debaters to “Chew Their Way to Ease and Excellence”**

BeijingMay 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, the 2026 Peking University “Weiming Cup” Debate Star Exhibition Match, hosted by the Peking University Student Debate Association and exclusively sponsored by Extra, a gum brand under Mars, kicked off again at the Peking University Global College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. This marks the third consecutive year that Extra has exclusively sponsored the event, accompanying every debater and student in activating their brainpower and maintaining focus through intellectual clashes, chewing their way to a relaxed and optimal state.

As one of the most influential events in the university debate community, the Peking University “Weiming Cup” has become a campus intellectual feast that transcends disciplines, grades, and ideas. It attracts student debaters from both on and off campus to compete on the same stage each year, serving as an ideal platform for young students to showcase their debating charm and logical eloquence.

The topic of this year’s star exhibition match is: “Everything can be achieved through ‘devious shortcuts’ / requires following the ‘righteous path’.” This topic combines social relevance and contemporary sharpness, directly addressing the value choices faced by young people in an “accelerated society.” The format and lineup have also seen continuous innovation: three universities collaborated to form cross-campus elite teams, adopting a 1v2 format where the Peking University debate team takes on a joint team from Tsinghua University and Wuhan University. Additionally, debaters from “iPartment” Liang Qiuyang, Peking University Debate Association Head Coach Hu Kaiming, two-time National Debate Championship runner-up Cui Lei, 2025 National Debate Championship Wuhan University champion debaters Yan Yuchen and Zhang Yiran, and other top minds gathered at Yanyuan to engage in verbal sparring.

On the stage, both sides presented different perspectives on the “efficiency-first ‘devious shortcut’ versus the steady ‘righteous path’ of cultivation.” Through multiple rounds of exchanges, the debaters demonstrated the depth of thought and expressive power of contemporary young debaters with dense logical output and precise on-the-spot reactions. This also made the audience truly feel that focus and clarity are the strongest “inner skills” for navigating a complex world.

With the deep penetration of information fragmentation and digital media, the decline in attention and focus among young people has become a widely discussed social issue. According to a survey conducted by the China Youth Daily Social Survey Center in collaboration with Wenjuan.com, which surveyed 1,341 respondents, over half of young people reported a decline in thinking ability and difficulty concentrating due to the proliferation of fragmented information. Among them, 62.2% of respondents believed their focus had been severely disrupted by behaviors such as browsing short videos and messages.^[1]

Recognizing this phenomenon, gum, with its unique “chewing” attribute, has become an accessible “relaxation buddy” in the daily lives of many young people. This value is particularly evident in debate competitions. Hu Kaiming, Head Coach of the Peking University Debate Association, also revealed: “Chewing gum is also a ‘relaxation tip’ for many team members. During pre-competition preparation, chewing gum helps alleviate nervousness, allowing debaters to quickly get into the zone and dissect topics. During high-pressure moments of offensive and defensive transitions in the competition, ‘chewing’ helps maintain concentration and activate brain thinking.”

The benefits of chewing gum for mood and attention are supported by solid scientific evidence: studies have shown that “chewing” can reduce cortisol levels in the body^[2] and regulate alpha brain waves associated with tension^[3], thereby helping to alleviate stress. Additionally, experts using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning technology have found that chewing gum enhances activity in certain brain regions, significantly increasing blood supply and oxygen levels^[4]. Through these physiological mechanisms, users can regain a more composed and focused state by chewing gum.

Through the concept of “Pop two when distracted, chew your way to a relaxed and optimal state,” Extra aligns its product functionality with the life scenarios of young people, creating deeper emotional resonance and connection. Beyond its presence on the competition stage, Extra also set up educational walls both inside and outside the venue, presenting the physiological mechanisms of chewing gum and its emotional value in an easy-to-understand manner, turning “chewing” into a positive psychological cue for young people to self-regulate.

From participating debaters to audience members, an increasing number of students have expressed that gum has become a “staple item” in their daily lives. Whether studying, preparing for exams, competing, or attending interviews, it helps alleviate tension and enhance focus.

Every intellectual collision on the competition stage and every interactive educational activity offstage deepens the communication between Extra and the younger generation. In the future, Extra will continue to resonate with young people, becoming their “relaxation buddy” in more growth scenarios such as academic preparation, club competitions, and job interviews, accompanying young people in every moment that requires focus, chewing their way to a relaxed and optimal state.