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KUCHING, 9 April 2025 – Sarawak’s young DanceSport talents proved their mettle at the WDSF Bailando Open Championship 2025, held at Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru from 4th to 6th April. Their outstanding performances brought pride to the state with a string of podium finishes and inspiring results.
Leading the Sarawak team was Cordelia Wee Li Xin, who impressed judges and spectators alike in the Adult Female Solo Latin category. Cordelia achieved a 3rd place ranking in Malaysia and finished 6th in the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Open event, a commendable feat on such a competitive stage.
Another rising star, Eunice Ling Chen Xin, competed in the Youth Female Solo Latin category and also secured 3rd place in the Malaysia National Ranking. While she reached the quarterfinal in the WDSF Open on the final day, she delivered a remarkable performance earlier in the competition, bagging two silver medals in Samba and Jive, along with three bronzes in Cha Cha, Rumba, and Paso Doble during the Bailando Open single dance events.
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In the Junior I Standard event, Ren Xuan Yi took 3rd place in the Malaysia National Ranking. Cordelia and Eunice train under Russell, Randell & Cindy Dance Company, while Ren hones his skills at Alexis DanceSport Studio.
Other promising performances came from Erin Ung and Arabelle Leah Pei in Junior II Latin, who reached the semifinals in the Malaysia National Ranking and made it to the WDSF Open quarterfinals. Junior I Latin dancers Valery Chung and Isabelle Lam reached WDSF quarterfinals, with Valery advancing to the semifinals.
Ooi She Le, competing in the Juvenile II category, qualified for semifinals in Cha Cha, Rumba, and Jive. Patricia Yap reached the semifinal in Juvenile I single dance events, while Sarah Tham made it to the quarterfinal stage.
President of the Sarawak DanceSport Association (SDA), Chester Lim, praised the dancers’ achievements, calling them a “lovely surprise” and a testament to Sarawak’s growing talent in DanceSport. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development Sarawak for their continuous support and revealed that SDA is actively planning training programmes and workshops to further improve athlete and official capabilities.
He also announced plans for the Sarawak Open International DanceSport Championship, expected to be held this coming August.