Julian aims to figure prominently
MALAYSIA have scored several “firsts” in various aspects in the 29th Sea Games but the most exciting one would be the debut of ice sports.
For the first time amid the heat of sweltering Souheast Asia, ice hockey, figure skating and speed skating (short track) will be contested at the KL Sea Games.
And many may not know that Malaysia has some of the best athletes in Southeast Asia in figure skating and speed skating, thus making the nation’s athletes hot favourites at the Games.
In figure skating, Julian Yee has blazed a name for Malaysia when he became Southeast Asia’s number one after beating Filipino Michael Christian Martinez at the World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki in April when he finished 22nd to Martinez’s 24th out of 36 skaters.
The 20-year-old is currently World No 37 while Martinez is two spots behind him.
Now, Julian eyes the Sea Games gold medal apart from qualifying for an 2018 Winter Olympics ticket.
At the other end, the national speed skating team look good for medals after breaking new ground earlier this year when they reached the bronze medal playoff stage at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo.
Despite being denied third place by Japan, the men’s relay team look strong as they take to the Malaysia Ice Skating Stadium (MYNISS) in Damansara Perdana