The Amazing Race Asia S5 host Allan Wu (centre) with the Malaysian contestants. Expect more excitement and drama in the new season of the reality show. Photo: The Star/Art ChenStar2.com
Malaysian team wins in the first leg of The Amazing Race
A Malaysian team came in first place in the premiere episode of The Amazing Race Asia S5 last night. Longtime schoolmates Brandon Ho and Alphaeus Tan beat 10 other teams to win the first leg of the race set in Jakarta, Indonesia. They also earned themselves air tickets to Bali.
“We came to the competition wanting to be consistenly in Top 3. We don’t want to be complacent. So, the win was a major confidence boost,” Ho said during an event in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 13.
The first episode of the reality show opened with a major twist. After the flag-off, the contestants have to search for the right compass for clues the next location. The last team to complete the challenge – partners Lisa and Nicole from Vietnam – were eliminated, all within the first 10 minutes of the show.
Host Allan Wu said the quick elimination was agonising: “I had to be the bearer of bad news. I could really feel the agony of the first team that was eliminated.” The other Malaysian team comprising Chloe Chen and Yvonne Lee (nicknamed “Beauty Queens”) were shocked at the way the first elimination was conducted.
“I felt it was really cruel,” said Lee.The first episode also saw the elimination of Singaporean siblings Kenji and Rei Umehara who came in the last in the race. Wu said viewers can expect more excitement in upcoming episodes. “When the contestants applied to be in the race, they were told to state their fears or things they won’t do. Well, guess what? Of course we’re going to make them do it on the show.
“It’s all about seeing how the contestants remain calm and cool under pressure. We’ll also see how the teams overcome challenges that are personal to them,” said the 44-year-old host.
The remaining contestants in The Amazing Race Asia are Malaysian brothers Alex and Will, Indonesian travel hosts Vicky and Rachel, Indonesian childhood friends Treasuri and Louisa, Thai couple Tom and Anita, Singaporean deejays JK and Mike, Filipina beauty queens Parul and Maggie and married couple from Philippines Eric and Rona.
The winning team is set to win US$100,000 (RM421,265).The Amazing Race Asia S5 airs every Thursday at 9pm on AXN (Astro Ch 701).
Read more at http://www.star2.com/entertainment/tv/2016/10/15/malaysian-team-wins-in-the-first-leg-of-the-amazing-race/#VuJs0Gf5R3AoPeZC.99
