M’sian athletes set sights on competing in 2017 SEA Games

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian ice skating athletes have begun dreaming big now that the sport will be contested in the SEA Games to be held here in 2017.

Short track speed skater Ariff Rasydan Fadzli, 17, was so inspired by the news that he pictured himself standing on the podium with a gold medal.

“It will require a lot of sacrifice and time away from my family and friends as I would have to be in training,” said Ariff, who bagged gold (1,000m category), silver (500m) and bronze (777m) medals in the Melbourne Open last September.

He believed he could do the nation proud if given the chance.

“I’m nervous but I can’t wait for the chance to lift the Malaysian flag at the Games,” he added.

On Friday, Malaysia Ice Skating Association president Fadzil Johan said ice skating would be contested at the 2017 SEA Games here and that the event was expected to be held at a rink being built at Empire City, Damansara.

Another promising candidate is figure skater Chew Kai Xiang (pic), 16, who relished the chance to perform in front of the home crowd.

“There will be pressure but I enjoy performing in front of family and friends.

“It also gives added motivation as I will be representing the country with fellow athletes from other sports,” he said.

Last year, Kai Xiang placed first in the International Skating Union World Figure Skating Development Trophy before finishing as the runner-up in the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy.

Olympic Commission of Malaysia assistant secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said Malaysia had been sending athletes for ice skating and ice hockey for the Asian Winter Games and other major competitions for some time now.

The non-profit Ski Malaysia was working hard to qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, he added.

“If a Malaysian qualifies for it, it will be newsworthy worldwide because a country with no snow has a representative in it,” said Sieh.