PETALING JAYA: National dancers Ooi Ken Vin and Zoe Tan were pleasantly surprised when they took two silver medals at the Vietnam Dancesport Festival on Thursday (July 10).
The 19-year-old pair, who were making their debut at the tournament, bagged silver medals in the fiercely competitive Southeast Asian single dance event’s rumba and jive categories, outperforming some of the best dancers in the region.
Jefferson Pimentel-Mary Seraga of the Philippines took gold in the jive, while Vietnam’s Ngoc An-Le To Uyen won the rumba category.
Ken Vin was stunned by the result as it went way beyond his expectations for his first senior tournament.
"We were both shocked and surprised with the result,” said Ken Vin.
"It was the first time we competed in the senior categories at the Southeast Asian level, and a lot of the dancers have much more experience than we do."
But Zoe felt there was more they could give on the dance floor, but was still happy to win two medals.
"I felt our performance wasn’t the best we could do, but nevertheless, I’m super happy to win two silver medals," she said.
The pair also finished fourth in the World DanceSport Southeast Asian Latin event and did better that the Philippines' No.1 pair Wilbert Aunzo-Pearl Caneda, who finished below them.
National coach Chua Zhen Fong said the medals were the result of Ken Vin and Zoe’s hard work.
"This significant achievement at an international platform highlights the dedication and rigorous training undertaken by Ken Vin and Zoe under their coach Evon Chong," he said.
The pair’s campaign in Vietnam served as the perfect preparation for the upcoming Malaysian Open from July 25-27 in Shah Alam.
