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A Week to Beat the World: The Stories

Series 1

The Malaysia Story

Duration: 28 minutes

First broadcast: on CBBC HDLatest broadcast: on CBBC HD

Available for years

The girls’ team of sprinter Alesha, boxer Jocelyn and new addition, rugby player and discus thrower Niamh, are in Malaysia, south east Asia, to learn about the popular local sport of lion dancing. At the end of this week, they will compete in front of top judges, who will assess how well they have mastered this super-tough sport.

Led by presenter Camille Ucan, they witness an awe-inspiring introduction to lion dancing performed by professionals. The girls then meet their training partners, who will be teaching them and performing with them at the end of the week.

The next day is all about leg strength, a key component of lion dancing. To test this, Camille challenges them to repeatedly race up the world-famous Batu Caves staircase. They move on to learn their first key lion dance move as their training regime steps up a gear.

The girls need to be strong to hold a 4kg lion’s head above their heads and make it move at the same time. Camille has an unusual challenge for the girls at the local night market - they have to become the world’s fastest waiters, racing through the crowds with trays of drinks above their heads. Their challenge to not spill a drop - what can possibly go wrong?

The final day of training focuses on good teamwork, the key to succeeding in lion dancing as it is performed in pairs. Camille is therefore introducing the girls to the traditional Malaysian team sport of galah panjang. Similar to British bulldogs or kabaddi, the aim is to dodge past opponents without being caught and make it to the finish line.

At the end of the week, the girls put everything they have learned across the week into practice, as they compete in a lion dance competition in front of expert judges and a local crowd.

Dressed in the traditional costume and cheered on by Camille, who will score the highest points and win the competition? Show less

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