Singapore lion dance troupe Yi Wei defends Genting World title with two top spots
Yi Wei had broken Malaysia's 13-year winning streak when it won the championship in 2023.
The prestigious competition, held biennially, draws the best lion dance troupes from around the region.
This year, Yi Wei sent two teams of eight performers each to compete.
Both teams secured the top spots once again in the battle of Chinese mythical creatures.
Team B emerged as the grand champion with an impressive score of 9.78. Team A claimed the first runner-up position with a score of 9.66.
Organised by Resorts World Genting in Malaysia, the three-day tournament attracted 40 teams from places including China, Hong Kong and Australia.
Yi Wei's Team A themed its performance on Guan Gong, a legendary military general revered as the Chinese god of war.
Team B chose Nezha, a popular deity depicted as a youthful warrior.
The teams prepared for months at a rented facility on Defu Lane in Singapore.
This year, Resorts World Genting increased the prize pool to mark its 60th anniversary celebrations.
Malaysia's Transport Minister Antony Loke presented the trophies to the winning teams.
Yi Wei's Team B took home US$18,000 (S$23,000) while Team A won US$10,000 for its runner-up finish.
In comparison, the 2023 champion received US$15,000 and the runners-up earned US$8,000 and US$5,000 respectively.
Yi Wei's celebrations will be held at a later date. According to Lee from Yi Wei, the troupe is now focused on upcoming competitions, starting with the 29th Ngee Ann City National Lion Dance Championships from 8 to 13 September.
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