KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia emerged second in the International Water Stilt Lion Dance Championship 2019 here, today.
The Kwong Ngai Lion Dance troupe made their fellow countrymen proud by taking home the RM20,000 prize and a trophy.
The two-day competition, which ended today at the National Aquatic Centre, saw Taiwan's Keelung Chang-Xing being named champion. The troupe won RM30,000 and a trophy.
Third place went to Myanmar's Long De Chuan Den Dragon Mid Lion Dance troupe, which took home RM10,000 and a trophy at the finals today.
The first-of-its-kind championship drew 10 teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Australia, who displayed their acrobatic skills and techniques on stilts.
Unlike regular lion dance competitions, this event required exponents to perform on stilts in a pool of water, making it more challenging for the performers.
The event received recognition from the Malaysian Book of Records as the first international water stilt lion dance championship held in the country.
It was jointly organised by the Dragon, Kirin and Lion Dance Federation of Malaysia; the Heng Kok Dragon and Lion Dance Association; and was sponsored by Swan City.
Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok, who was the guest of honour at the finals, presented prizes to the winners.
In her closing speech, she congratulated the winners and organisers on a successful event.
"I’m very impressed by the performances I witnessed. This is indeed my first time seeing stilts placed inside an Olympic-size swimming pool.
"I was told that some of the participants fell into the pool while performing. I'm sure it’s not easy," she said.
Kok added that each participating country was represented by a team which were champions or elite exponents of the lion dance in their respective countries.
She said that the event appealed to youths and would encourage them to be involved in the art form.
Also present were the event’s organising chairman and Heng Kok Dragon and Lion Dance Association president Datuk Wong Ying Seng; Dragon Dance and Qi Ling Lion Association Malaysia president Datuk Seri Roger Ly Kim Cheong; and Dragon and Lion Dance Federation of Malaysia president Datuk Martin Lim Soon Seng.