Cheering loud and proud for the win
Competitors set their sights on coveted trophies in cheerleading event
KUALA LUMPUR:
Excitement and anticipation are running high as the race for the coveted Cheer 2018 trophies intensifies.
With a week to go before the Cheer finals next Saturday, expect gravity-defying moves, tantalising twists and tumbles, and pinpoint formations at Malaysia’s biggest cheerleading event.
The final showdown will take place from 8am to 7pm at the Main Atrium of Quill City Mall.
Raring to defend their High School Senior All-Girls title again, Cyrens cheer captain Jazlyn Ong Jing Yi says her team is all pumped up to win the title for the ninth consecutive year.
“Although we are on a winning streak, our main focus is still on performing and executing a perfect routine and leave the mat with no regrets,” said the Sri Kuala Lumpur student.
To prepare themselves for the finals, the Cyrens have been doing extra training on top of their regular four sessions a week.
Participating in the physically demanding sport of cheerleading means that the students are vulnerable to injuries.
“Our main issue is injuries. One teammate had a serious injury and we had to replace her at the last minute before a competition,” she said.
For the Puzzle team, the Cheer 2017 University Co-Ed Elite winner, the stakes are high in defending their title for Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARC).
“We have been preparing for this competition since a month ago. We have included doubles bases stunts, pyramids and tumblings in the routine,” captain Lai Chee Hau said, adding there will be more girls in the team this year.
Cheer 2018 is organised by the Star Media Group. The event sponsor is Appeton Teengrow while the official venue sponsor is Quill City Mall KL. The prize sponsor is Sunway Education Group.
The product sponsors are Sunway Lost World Of Tambun, Kao Malaysia, F&N, EIG Pharma Asia, Shopee and Reckitt Benckiser.
The event is sanctioned by the Cheerleading Association and Register of Malaysia (Charm).
Next Saturday’s finals will see 38 teams vying for Cheer 2018 glory across five categories.
A new category has been included this year – the Pee Wee Level 1 division for primary school pupils.
Here is the list of competitors: High School Senior All-Girls: Anselm (SMK Infant Jesus Convent Melaka), Titans ( SMJK Ave Maria Convent), Cyrens ( Sri Kuala Lumpur), Calyx All Girls (SMJK Katholik), Muriel (SMK (P) Pudu);
High School Senior Co-ed: Storm Coed (SMK Seri Kembangan), Calyx Coed (SMJK Katholik), Zelts (Sri Emas International School), Zodiac Coed (SMK Kepong); High School Junior All-Girls: Vulcanz All-Girls (SMK Seafield), Eclipse (Sunway International School), Titans Junior (SMJK Ave Maria Convent), Rayvens (Sri Kuala Lumpur), Calyx Junior (SMJK Katholik), Xavier (SMK Convent Bukit Nanas), Falcons (Sri Bestari Private School), Blitzerz (SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 4), Jazz (SM Universal Hua Xia), Spartans (SRI UCSI International School), Stormz (SMK Seri Hartamas), Zodiac All-Girls (SMK Kepong);
University Co-ed Elite: SUC Junior Orange (Sunway University College), SUC Senior (Sunway University College), Puzzle (TARC), Cypher ( Monash University Malaysia), Legacy Red (Help
University), Acrux ( Xiamen University College), Taylors Wildcats ( Taylors Lakeside University); and
Pee Wee Level 1: Angels (SK Convent Bukit Nanas 1), Bears (SJK (C) Lick Hung), Phoenix (SJK (C) Puay Chai), Venus (SJK (C) Lai Meng), Sharks (SJK (C) Chung Hwa (P)), Shooting Stars (SJK (C) Taman Connaught), Little Lynx (SK Bukit Damansara), Little Twinkles (SJK (C) Khe Beng), Twinkles (SJK (C) Khe Beng), Matrix ( SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4).