Confucius Institute at UTAR guides students to national glory and global stage

Recommended and mentored by the Confucius Institute (CI) at UTAR, Kirrtika Muniandy, a primary school student from SJKC Wah Keow, Perak, emerged as the Champion of the 5th “Chinese-Bridge” Chinese Show for Malaysian Primary School Students (第5届“汉语桥”世界小学生中文秀马来西亚赛区决赛).

Thanks to her outstanding language skills, solid foundation in Chinese, confidence, and natural stage presence, Kirrtika also received the Best Charisma Award. She will represent Malaysia at the global finals in China, further promoting cultural exchange between Malaysia and China. In recognition of his mentorship, CI at UTAR instructor Mr Tan Xian Jing was honoured with the Champion Coach Award.

Meanwhile, two other contestants recommended and mentored by CI at UTAR, Abhinaa Sri Prakash from Westlake International School and Amsyar Darwisy Al Falah bin Azizi@Azizam from SJKC Wah Keow, also successfully advanced to the national finals, delivering commendable performances.

The CI at UTAR team was led by instructor Ms Wang Ruiqing, who provided full support to the contestants in their preparation and on-site performance throughout the competition.

With systematic training and guidance from CI’s instructors, the three outstanding contestants delivered fluent and natural Chinese speeches, sharing their stories about learning the language and illustrating the theme. Their speeches touched the audience and demonstrated the CI at UTAR students’ passion for Chinese culture. In the talent segment, their energetic singing and guitar performance, dynamic calligraphy, and graceful fan dance received enthusiastic applause. The contestants showcased strong Chinese language skills and cultural talents, fully reflecting the charm and spirit of CI at UTAR’s students.

The instructors remarked, “The ‘Chinese-Bridge’ competition was more than just a language contest; it was a vibrant cultural exchange. We warmly congratulate our students on their excellent achievements and believe they will continue to reach new heights. We also hope more young learners passionate about Chinese will see ‘Chinese-Bridge’ as a bridge of friendship and culture. We encourage them to stay true to their dreams, share inspiring stories in Chinese, and help strengthen the cultural ties between Malaysia and China.”

The competition was held on 10 May 2025 at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). Organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia and co-organised by the Confucius Institute at UMS, this year’s competition carried the theme Chinese Joy & Fun! and brought together 26 outstanding non-Chinese primary school students from across Malaysia who had qualified for the finals. The event featured a series of segments, including prepared speeches in Chinese, quizzes on Chinese culture, talent performances, and impromptu speeches, which offered a comprehensive assessment of the participants’ cultural knowledge, language proficiency, and ability to think on their feet.