KUALA LUMPUR — Cherry Yeo has once again put Malaysia on the global stage, this time with her remarkable victory at the prestigious WDSF World Cup Solo Latin event in Belgrade, Serbia.
Cherry, the only athlete representing Malaysia in the competition, made history not only as the first Malaysian but also the first Asian to win the World Cup Solo Latin title, earning a gold medal and seeing the national anthem played on the world stage.
Trained by Chua Zjen Fong and Evon Chong of MY DanceSport Academy, Cherry’s performance stood out among athletes from 14 countries, including Italy, Hong Kong, Croatia, and Kazakhstan.
Her artistry and talent in Latin dance captivated the judges, earning her the top spot in her category.
This win adds to Cherry’s growing list of international achievements.
Following three golds in Spain last year, Cherry continued her winning streak this year with gold medals in Germany and London before claiming her latest victory in Serbia.
Zjen Fong, who also serves as the Malaysia DanceSport Federation (MYDF) sports director, highlighted the significance of his protégé’s victory.
“Cherry’s achievement is a testament to Malaysia’s dancesport progressing in the right direction, and the pace is catching up with these new generations of athletes.
“We hope to have DanceSport included in the 2027 Malaysia Sea Games, where it has been hosted in the last three editions—2019 in the Philippines, 2021 in Vietnam, and 2023 in Cambodia.
“Including the solo event would be beneficial for the 2027 Sea Games in Malaysia,” he told Scoop.
In a statement, MYDF thanked the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and the Kuala Lumpur DanceSport Association (KLDSA) for their crucial role in helping the team achieve international recognition. — October 5, 2024