According to IQNA dispatches, Abdul Basit Muhammad Aslam from Pakistan, Maryam Musa from Cambodia, Amrullah Aqbash from Turkey, Alyasa Hassani from Macedonia, Ratana Sahaman from Thailand and Yusuf Fundita from the Philippines were the contenders in the men and women sections on Monday.
They recited, as asked by the panel of judges, verses from Surahs al-Qisas, Muminun, Ankabut, Naml, Ibraheem, and Kahf.
After each performance, a Malaysian Quran scholar presented explanations about the meaning of the words and concepts of the recited verses.
Representatives of 56 countries are attending the international Quranic event, which kicked off on Monday at the Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur.
The competition will run until Saturday, May 12, when winners will be announced an awarded.