By KEVIN TAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

The cheerleaders from Team Malaysia: (from left) Theng Kai Yee, Ong Wei Lee, Renatii Kong-Yueq, Rachel Lu and Hui shen yee. the girls finished ninth at the recent ICU World Cheerleading Championships, and will be soon competing at Cheer 2013.

TEAM Malaysia, the country’s national cheerleading team, made the nation proud by placing ninth at the recent International Cheer Union (ICU) 2013 World Cheerleading Championships.

This was the first year Team Malaysia have participated in the prestigious competition held in Florida, US, competing against 17 other teams.

It so happens that the five cheerleaders who represented Malaysia are also gearing up for Cheer 2013, the nation’s premier inter-school cheerleading competition, happening in June.

Cheer 2013, organised by R.AGE and presented by MARIGOLD HL Low Fat Milk, is the 14th edition of the annual competition, which will feature the best secondary school cheerleading teams in the country.

The Team Malaysia cheerleaders participating in Cheer 2013 are Hui Shuen Yee, Rachel Lu, Ong Wei Lee and Renatti Kong-Yueq from team Cyrens (SM Sri Kuala Lumpur), and Theng Kai Yee from SM(J)K Katholik.

“It was my first time representing Malaysia and competing in such a huge cheer competition. To be honest, I didn’t expect us to get ninth place, and I was very happy with the result, considering it’s Malaysia’s first time participating in the compettion,” said Hui, 17.

Team Malaysia performing at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships.

She believes the experience of participating in the international competition serves as a good preparation for Cheer 2013. “Having to perform in front of a huge crowd helped boost my confidence,” she said.

Director and coach of Cheer Aspirations and vice president of Cheerleading Association and Register of Malaysia (CHARM) Tan Yee Ming, 27, said that Team Malaysia was determined to give its best at the competition.

“The team’s aim for this competition was to perform a perfect routine. The ranking they achieved after that is a bonus, because they had already performed their best and achieved a perfect routine,” she said.

The Team Malaysia cheerleaders also feel that they had a special advantage over the other participants during the intense competition – they smiled a lot more than the others.

“I believethat our routine was fast-paced and clean. But most of all, we kept our smiles on throughout the whole routine unlike some other teams,” said Ong, 16.

“Smiling helps build my confidence because when I smile, I’m more relaxed. It helps me perform better and calms my nerves,” added Lu, 16.

After their outstanding performance at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships, the girls hope that they will be able to deliver their best come Cheer 2013.

“I’m looking forward to the atmosphere at Cheer and also to perform my routine. I’ve never met any crowd as supportive before in my life.

“Everyone cheers so loudly for you thatit gives good chills and it feels good knowing that your someone out there believes thatyou can do it. I can’t wait for my team and I to step on the blue mat and show what we’ve been working so hard for,” Lu expressed.

For Tan, Cheer provides a great avenue for secondary school cheerleading teams to showcase their talents. Tan finds that Cheer 2013 provides an avenue for the secondary school cheerleading teams to compete.

“It is a highly anticipated event and it is through competitions like these that the cheerleaders gain confidence and mental strength to help them become better individuals.”

She also hopes that Team Malaysia’s achievement in the ICU World Cheerleading Championships will encourage cheerleaders participating in Cheer 2013 to believe in themselves and work hard to achieve their goals.

“Anything is possible with hard work and belief. The team would not have achieved this if they did not believe in themselves.

“I hope that Team Malaysia will be the proof of this, and the team members will be positive role models to their peers.”

Catch the Team Malaysia cheerleaders in action at Cheer 2013! The finals will be held at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on June 29 and 30. Admission to the event is free to all members of the public.