KUCHING – Persatuan Tarian Naga Dan Singa Qun Yi Kota Tinggi, Johor – Team A emerged as the champion in the Traditional Southern Lion Dance category at the Sarawak Open International Dragon and Lion Dance Cup 2026.
The Johor team secured first place in the competition, finishing ahead of representatives from Sarawak and Indonesia.
Liang Sheng Dragon And Lion Dance Troupe from Sarawak took the runner-up position, while Team Sentosa from Indonesia completed the top three in third place.
The result gave Persatuan Tarian Naga Dan Singa Qun Yi Kota Tinggi, Johor – Team A the championship in one of the four main competition categories featured during the 2026 edition of the event.
The Traditional Southern Lion Dance competition brought together teams from different locations to compete in a category centred on traditional Southern lion dance performances.
The participation of teams from Johor, Sarawak and Indonesia also gave the category an international and regional character.
The Sarawak Open International Dragon and Lion Dance Cup 2026 has featured teams from Malaysia and overseas, providing a platform for performers to demonstrate their skills and compete against teams from different backgrounds.
For the Johor team, the victory marked a first-place finish in the Traditional Southern Lion Dance category.
The Liang Sheng Dragon And Lion Dance Troupe represented Sarawak in the competition and finished second. Team Sentosa from Indonesia secured third place, giving an overseas team a position on the podium.
The final standings therefore featured representatives from three locations, with Johor taking the championship, Sarawak finishing as runner-up and Indonesia claiming third place.
The prize presentation was conducted by SOIDLDC2026 Pemanca Tan Kun Gee and Lim Chester Hian Thoong.
Tan Kun Gee is the chief executive officer of Aeroville Mall, while Lim Chester Hian Thoong is the chairman of the Chinese Martial Art Association Kuching and served as the competition organiser.
The presentation followed the completion of the Traditional Southern Lion Dance category.
The 2026 championship has included four separate competitions, covering Northern Lion Dance, High Pole Southern Lion Dance, Luminous Dragon Dance and Traditional Southern Lion Dance.
The Traditional Southern Lion Dance category provided participating teams with an opportunity to showcase established performance techniques as part of the wider championship programme.
Dragon and lion dance competitions also require performers to work closely as a team, combining coordinated movement and performance skills throughout their routines.
The event has brought together performers from different parts of Malaysia as well as international participants, contributing to greater interaction among dragon and lion dance groups.
The presence of Team Sentosa from Indonesia alongside teams from Johor and Sarawak further highlighted the cross-border participation at the 2026 competition.
The championship also provides a platform for participating associations and performers to gain competitive experience while promoting interest in dragon and lion dance.
The latest results add another international element to the competition, with teams from Malaysia and Indonesia securing places among the top three in the Traditional Southern Lion Dance category.
The Johor team finished at the top, followed by the Sarawak troupe and the Indonesian team.
The prize-giving ceremony formally recognised the three leading teams following their performances.
The Sarawak Open International Dragon and Lion Dance Cup 2026 continues to provide opportunities for teams to compete in different dragon and lion dance disciplines.
With the Traditional Southern Lion Dance category now concluded, Persatuan Tarian Naga Dan Singa Qun Yi Kota Tinggi, Johor – Team A stands as the 2026 champion.
Liang Sheng Dragon And Lion Dance Troupe finished second, while Team Sentosa secured third place.
The results underline the regional participation in this year’s championship and the continued presence of traditional lion dance performances within competitive events in Sarawak.
