SANDAKAN: A young lion dance team from Sandakan has made the district proud after emerging champion at the 21st Genting Lion King Cup National Lion Dance Championship (East Malaysia Zone), earning the honour of representing East Malaysia at the national finals in Genting Highlands this September.
The Sandakan Chung Seng Dragon and Lion Dance Association defeated 23 teams from Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, scoring 9.36 points during the competition held in Tawau community hall on Sunday (May 24).
For the team, many of whom are under 30, the victory was more than just another trophy.
It was proof that years of sacrifice, injuries, discipline and perseverance had finally paid off.
Association representative, Andy Chu Yew Chung, said the journey towards the title had been far from easy.
“There were countless training sessions, sweat, falls and setbacks before we finally achieved this,” he said.
“But all the hard work paid off when we managed to bring the championship title back to Sandakan. This victory belongs not only to our team, but also to Sandakan,” he added.
Founded in 2022, Chung Seng started with just seven friends who already had experience in lion, dragon and unicorn performances under other associations.
At the time, Chu was only 22 years old.
The group later decided to form their own association with the hope of creating a more encouraging environment for younger performers while helping to preserve the traditional art among Sabah’s younger generation.
Over the years, the association steadily grew, attracting teenagers and young adults who were passionate about lion dance despite the physically demanding nature of the sport.
High pole lion dance performances require strength, balance and complete trust among teammates, with injuries always a risk during training and competitions.
Despite the challenges, members continued training while juggling studies and full-time jobs, driven largely by passion and pride in keeping the culture alive.
Chu also expressed appreciation to their master, Yeo Siaw Boo, for continuously guiding and supporting the team throughout their preparations.
“Without our master’s dedication and leadership, we would not be standing on the championship stage today,” he said.
He also thanked supporters, family members and friends who stood behind the association throughout the journey.
The latest victory marks another milestone for the team, which had previously secured several medals at national-level competitions within just a few years of its formation.
Chu said the championship was both a recognition of the team’s hard work and a reminder to continue improving.
The association has now shifted its focus towards preparations for the national finals scheduled to be held in Genting Highlands this September.
“We will continue to train hard and challenge ourselves on bigger stages. We hope to once again deliver our best performance and make Sandakan proud,” he said.
