PH figure ice skater sa Universiade

TARGET ni figure skater Misha Fabian na masundan ang tagumpay ni Michael Martinez sa international competition sa kanyang posibleng muling pagsabak sa Winter Universiade sa Lucerne, Switzerland sa Dec. 1121.

Ang 22-anyos na si Misha ang kauna-unahang Pinay figure skater na sumabak sa Universiade ng katawanin ang bansa sa prestihiyosong torneo may dalawang taon na ang nakalilipas sa Russia.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang tagumpay ni Martinez, kauna-unahang Pinoy na sumabak sa Winter Olympics (2014) at muling kumahok noong 2018, ang sukatan ng mga batang skaters sa bansa.

“You see history happening right before your eyes and i also learned that with proper training and proper education and the right opportunity, the Philippines certainly has a shot at being competitors in grand prestigious competitions such as Universiade. The entire experience is so amazing and overwhelming at the same time,” pahayag ni Misha, patungkol sa naging karanasan sa Russia, sa kanyang pagbisiat sa ‘Usapang Sports on Air’ ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) nitong Huwebes via Zoom at livestreaming sa Facebook at YouTube.

Iginiit ni Fabian na tulad ng ibang sports kailangan ang dedikasyon sa training upang makaagapay sa kompetisyon.

“Ako po talaga. Gusto ko talaga mag-skate. Ever since i was a kid. Kasi yung mom ko dinadala ako when i was younger to Megamall and i would always watch yung mga skiskate sa rink na nasa basement ng Megamall. So that’s really what inspired me to start skating because i was so amazed that how people could jump, spin and glide around the ice with such ease and i really wanted to be a skater but i didn’t get to take formal lessons until i was around 10 years old. Humingi ko po bilang birthday present sa parents ko.

“At first, i think we all thought i was gonna be recrational lang na parang something na gagawin every weekend. Para pang laro o pang exercise pero eventually i found myself beginning to compete, at around 14 or 15 years old. So hanggang kaya pa ng katawan ko, i wanted to be training, practicing and doing what i can for the sport,” aniya sa lingguhang sports forum na itinataguyod ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), PAGCOR at Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

Kasama niyang bumisita ang kanyang coach na si Ronan Capili, gayundin sina FESSAP Executive Vice President Roberto Calo at Philippine Baskeball Association of the Philippines (PABA) president Chito Loyzaga.

“Well, actually. Masaya kasi yung sport and we have a good chance in sustaining participation in the sport. We have a lot of good artistic skaters and strong and well abled bodies individuals sa mga Filipinos. Kakaiba din kasi yung interest natin sa iba’t ibang sports so nakakatuwa na nagkaroon ng ice skating,” pahayag ni Capili.