Ice skaters receive heartwarming boost from carmaker

PUTRAJAYA: The Ice Skating Association of Malaysia (ISAM) have received a timely boost ahead of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August.

ISAM have signed a five-year sponsorship deal with BMW Group Malaysia, who will support the national team with their overseas training expenses and providing them with full skinsuits as well as crash and safety helmets.

The aim is to see Malaysia make its debut in the Winter Olympics – in Beijing 2022.

For now, ISAM are focusing on fulfilling their three-gold medal promise at the biennial Games from Aug 19-30.

ISAM president Mohd Fadzli Johan admitted that the sponsorship had lifted the mood around the national camp.

“We are grateful that the BMW Group Malaysia appreciates and believes in the potential of our athletes to succeed in the sport of ice skating,” said Mohd Fazli.

“Their support will enable us to beef up the national team’s preparations for competitions and help develop the sports further.”

A total of eight gold medals will be up for grabs in the SEA Games ice skating – two in figure skating and six in short track speed skating.

Canada-based figure skater Julian Yee and the speed skating relay team of Hazim Syahmi Shahrum, Wong De Vin, Khairil Ridhwan Khalil and Ariff Rasydan Fadzli are tipped to shine judging by their strong performances in the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, in February.

Julian finished a creditable eighth in men’s singles while the relay quartet did well to finish fourth behind powerhouses China, South Korea and Japan.

The sponsorship-signing ceremony at Menara KBS here yesterday was witnessed by Youth and Sports deputy secretary general (management) Nik Abdul Kadir Nik Mohammad while BMW Group Malaysia was represented by its managing director and chief executive officer Han Sang-yun.