The 9th Cheerleading World Championships were successfully concluded in Takasaki, Japan after more than 100 teams from 28 countries and regions cheered and danced with breath-taking, expressive and heartfelt intent at Takasaki Arena.
The 9th Cheerleading World Championships marked the third occasion for the World Championships to be held in Japan following the 2001 and 2005 editions in Tokyo. For 2017, the host city was Takasaki, a 370,000-inhabitant city just north of Tokyo and home to Takasaki Arena; one of the newest indoor arenas in Japan which was opened in April this year and will also serve as a training centre for the upcoming 2020 Olympics.
Medals were awarded across 3 age categories in a total of 13 different divisions including a first ever medal to a team from South America as Ecuador saw off fierce competition from Japan and Thailand to secure Gold in Cheerleading Doubles. Indeed, South America was well represented in the Cheerleading Doubles Top 10 with Venezuela in 6th and Chile in 10th.
Elsewhere, Indonesia secured their first ever medal at the Cheerleading World Championships with an exceptional effort to win Silver in Cheerleading Junior 1.
In Cheer Dance, the Philippines, Russian Federation and Thailand each secured two Gold medals from the six on offer.
Japan dominated the Cheerleading team divisions winning Gold in Cheerleading Junior 1 and 2, Cheerleading Senior All Female and Cheerleading Senior Mixed, where Japan regained the title of World Champion from Thailand in an exhilarating finale to the World Championships.
Full results are available on www.takasaki2017.com
For those fans unable to witness the breathtaking action in person, a live stream was broadcast on Sunday 12th November.