There are many Malaysian players who shine in their sports fields, such as badminton player Pearly Tan who smashed a Guinness World Record and squash player Sivasangari who won a gold-level tournament and received praise from PMX.
However, it seems like Malaysians are also stars in cheerleading, as they have won the gold medal at the International Cheer Union World Junior Cheerleading Championships 2024.
The championships were held in Florida, United States, from April 24 to 29 and involved a whopping 10,000 athletes from 80 countries.
Image credit: @JaPenWPKL
On April 18, Jabatan Penerangan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (JaPen WPKL) announced that the CHARM cheerleading squad would represent Malaysia at the championships. Their tweet explained, “The Cheerleading Association and Register of Malaysia (CHARM) has received an allocation of RM80,000 from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) to participate.”
CHARM TERIMA RM80 RIBU DARIPADA KBS
— Jabatan Penerangan WPKL?? (@JaPenWPKL) April 18, 2024
Persatuan Sorak dan Daftar Malaysia (CHARM) telah menerima peruntukkan sebanyak RM80 ribu daripada Kementerian Belia Dan Sukan (KBS) untuk menyertai Kejohanan Sorak Dunia 2024 di Orlando, Amerika Syarikat. pic.twitter.com/TPoKkQYp6B
The squad comprised 20 athletes aged 12 to 15, two coaches, and a team manager. Hannah Yeoh, the Youth and Sports Minister, also met with them to cheer them on before they headed to the US.
Upon hearing the good news about their win, she congratulated them on her social media, saying, “When we continue to encourage and support our athletes, the results will come! So proud of you girls. Believe in yourself, train hard, and celebrate.”
The CHARM team also proudly shared about their win in an Instagram post, “A heartfelt round of applause to the exceptional athletes whose dedication and skill brought home the gold, showcased grace and skill on the mat, performing a flawless routine where they astounded us all…Malaysia stands proud today, celebrating this remarkable triumph in the world of cheerleading.”
A few days before bagging the gold medal, they also impressively won a bronze medal, Malaysia’s first-ever cheerleading medal at the championships.
We couldn’t find a video from the finals, but here’s one from the semi-finals showcasing their mad skills. They also used the ‘Malaysia Boleh’ slogan as part of their routine.
CHARM has indeed charmed us. We’re cheering them on in all their future endeavours!
Featured Image Credit: CHARM Malaysia | Instagram, Hannah Yeoh | Facebook