After a win last year and six months' hard practice, Thai cheerleaders are aiming high at the Asian Championships

Rangsit University's cheerleading team left for Tokyo yesterday, and one of its biggest challenges. The 21 cheerleaders are determined to win the second Asian International Open Cheerleading Championships.

They will represent the Thailand Federation of Cheerleading in a battle against teams from 10 countries.

After a tough and intensive training camp over the past six months, the contest will begin on Saturday.

The team expects fierce competition from Japan, which has national athletes in its team, and from Taiwan, whose team is famous for its cheerleading pyramids.

"We're confident we will be the champions," says Wattana Sritaworn, 19, a second-year student.

Last year, the Rangsit University team won the Grand Championship University Open at the British Cheerleading Association's international championships. If they go on to win the Asia championship, they will go to Germany next year to contest the world championship. So there's a lot of pressure on the team.

"We have high expectations. But that's a good advantage - it makes us practice and try harder," says Krittaporn Sawangsri, 20, a third-year student.

XTRA

Passing the baton

>> Cheerleading as we know it today was started in 1898 by University of Minnesota undergraduate Johnny Campbell - he was supporting his football team.

>> Competitive cheerleading in Thailand began about 15 years ago as a contest at Mathayom school level.

>> For more, pay a visit to www. ThaiCheerleading.net.