12-year-old Laura Huysmans has won the first semifinal for Belgium's Eurosong for Kids. With her song Wees zeker (Be sure) – aptly enough a song about self-confidence – she defeated her four opponents in a sparkling show, broadcast live on Flemish TV1.

All genres were represented when the Flemish broadcaster VRT – holding the Belgian selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003 – presented the first semifinal earlier tonight. Ballads, rock, rap, pop – all in one, sparkling show.

A professional jury, a children's jury, VRT Radio 2, Radio Donna and the press appointed 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 points to the participants, and Sergio himself (Belgian entrant in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest) announced the decisive points of TV1�s televoting. The point units in the televoting had been doubled to make the viewers' votes weigh as much as the jurors' votes.

Three songs stood out, and Laura Huysmans finally won at the thrilling end of the show. The results are as follows:

1. 79 points: Laura � Wees zeker (Be sure)
2. 76 points: X!nk – De vrienschapsband (The tie of friendship)
3. 76 points: Martijn – Ik word je popidool (I�ll be your pop idol)
4. 62 points: Charlotte – Hey kids hier (Hey kids here)
5. 57 points: Kia – Geen antwoord (No answer)

Laura Huysmans is thus directly qualified for the final. The winners of both semifinals and the all-in-all three best scoring songs of both semifinals go on to the final, on 21st September.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003 is held in Copenhagen, Denmark on 15th November and will be broadcast live to fifteen countries.

Thanks to our reader Roel for contributing with this information!