KUALA LUMPUR: The Gombak Cultural Group from the district Education Office has notched outstanding succeess at the World Cup of Folklore Jesolo 2025 in Jesolo, Italy.
This follows its strong showing at the World Cup of Folklore Veliko Tarnovo in 2023 in Bulgaria.
Teacher Mira Masmira, who accompanied the group, shared the news in an announcement on Facebook Monday (May 26), describing the Malaysian team's stellar performance in the prestigious competition.
The group, comprising students from various schools in the Gombak district, competed in six categories, winning four championships and two runner-up awards through a variety of traditional and contemporary cultural art performances.
Among the championship performances were the Sewang and Kuda Kepang dances in the children's and youth categories, Silat Tari Inai for the adult category, and a performance titled Balqis – a blend of singing and Samrah dance – presented by a mixed group of youths and adults.
The runner-up awards were earned through the Magunatip dance performance in the adult category and the Malaysian Art Dance – which showcased a combination of Chinese dance, Zapin, and contemporary Inang – in the children and youth category.
The competition, held from Friday (May 23) to Sunday, was organised by the European Association of Folklore Festivals and saw the participation of 152 groups from around the world.
In 2023, the Gombak group was emerged runner-up at the World Cup of Folklore Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, the mother of two young participants from SK Taman Melawati, Nur Hidayah Jaafar, 38, described her daughters’ success on the international stage as an extraordinary and unexpected experience.
She said her pride and gratitude were indescribable when she saw daughters Audrey Anna Makeen Abdullah Mus’ab, 12, and Afraa Allyse Manaheel Abdullah Mus’ab, 11, shine on the international stage after joining the group only this year.
"I never imagined they would have the chance to represent the country on a global stage, let alone return with a win. It’s a truly meaningful experience and a lifelong memory for our whole family,” she said. – Bernama
