Ice skaters’ SEA Games preparations below par

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are unlikely to repeat their fivegold haul in ice skating at the 2019 Philippines SEA Games, as athletes are apparently feeling the effects of the tussle between the Malaysia Ice Skating Federation (MISF) and the Ice Skating Association of Malaysia (ISAM).

MISF was confirmed by the Sports Commissioner (SC) in December 2018 as the governing body of the sport after SC decided to deregister ISAM in May 2018 for failing to present financial reports from 2008 to 2017.

What is worrying is the crisis has affected the athletes' preparations ahead of the biennial Games.

2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017) gold medallist Muhammad Ameer Iman Fadzli said it was unfair of MISF to remove him and his team-mates from the national squad, thus denying them the chance to defend their gold medal.

He claimed that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had overlooked them and that the conflict with MISF had affected their training sessions.

“They (MISF) put pressure on us...they kicked us out from the national team and said we can't really join the SEA Games for no reason,” said the 17-year-old athlete, who clinched gold in the 3,000m short track speed skating relay.

National figure skater Chew Sze Chyi hoped the crisis could be quickly resolved so that she could realise her dream of seeing action in the Games.

“I was a reserve in the last edition and hopefully this year I get to compete. Hopefully everything gets to be solved soon so we can get ready and prepare for it,” she said.

Meanwhile, KL2017 national ice skating head coach Tan Bee Leng said it is almost impossible for Malaysia to match their achievement in the previous edition with just sixth months left before the Games kick off in November.