AHMEDABAD: There was only one destination for K-Pop fans in Ahmedabad this week as hundreds of them thronged Dinesh Hall in Navrangpura to witness the regional round of the All India K-Pop Contest 2024 which saw a total of 29 contestants. After receiving 482 registrations for the online round competition in the region, selection was made for the regional round. There were 28 teams in the regional round with 15 teams performing in the dance category, while another 13 teams participated in the vocal category of the competition.In the dance category, Vaishnavi Pasi wowed the judges and audience with her powerful performance of BTS’ hit song “On” and claimed the top prize. Meanwhile, in the vocal category, Emily mesmerized everyone with her soulful rendition of Taeyang’s “Rain,” earning her the winner’s spot. Both Vaishnavi and Emily will now represent Ahmedabad in the highly anticipated semi-finals to be held in New Delhi on 19th October 2024. With the completion of the Ahmedabad regional round, nine cities out of 11 have successfully hosted their competitions in the All India K-Pop Contest 2024. The regional rounds will continue on September 1 in Bhopal and Lucknow and more than 300 teams from across the country are expected to participate. The winners of these regional rounds will advance to the Grand Finale, which will be held on 23rd November 2024 at the state-of-the-art Yasobhoomi Exhibition and Convention Center in New Delhi. The winners of the grand finale will be awarded with an incredible opportunity to visit the Republic of Korea. Director of Korean Cultural Center India, Hwang Il Yong, expressed his excitement about bringing the competition to Ahmedabad: “Ahmedabad, as the largest city in Gujarat, has its vibrancy during Navratri, including Garba and Dandiya. Known for art and culture, thrilled to see such enthusiastic participation in the K-Pop competition, with so many talented individuals coming forward, it was amazing to see the hard work and passion displayed by the participants, which is why we look forward to seeing this. Talented individuals continue their K-pop journey.”