MISF REFUTE SIBLINGS’ CLAIMS
Ariff Rasydan and Ameer Iman alleged they have been sidelined
THE Malaysia Ice Skating Federation (MISF) have denied claims that they have sidelined Ariff Rasydan Fadzil and his brotherAmeer Iman from competitions.
Ariff was quoted as saying recently that the future looks bleak for him and his brother following the de-registration of the Ice Skating Association of Malaysia (ISAM) which then led to the formation of MISF.
“Ameer was initially on ISAM’s five-skater list for last month’s World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal.
“However, we withdrew his name from the list on Jan 8.
“MISF’s selection policy is based on merit. As for the world junior meet, Malaysia were entitled to send four male and four female ice skaters.
“The skaters had to be between 14 and 19 years old, and the qualifying marks for the 500m were below 50 seconds for the male division and below 53 seconds for the female category,” said MISF secretary-general Steve McCoy.
McCoy explained that Ameer (48.834s) was ranked seventh among the Malaysian male skaters with the top four being Sean Yeo (45.325s), Hazim Shahrum (45.683s), Wan Akif Wan Faizal (47.265s) and Khairil Ridhwan Khalil (47.265s).
Dione Tan (49.124s), Chan Kynie (52.184s) and See Wan Ni (52.983s) were also picked for the Montreal assignment. However, Wan Ni withdrew from the girls’ squad.
“We have no restrictions in training opportunities at any rink. It is also not true that MISF had denied the brothers (Ariff and Ameer) from being members of the association.
“MISF have so far not received any membership application from them. Both Ariff and Ameer are welcome to join MISF and also fight for national team spots.
“We will select skaters based on merit. We will not sideline those worthy of representing the country,” said McCoy, adding that the coaches are in the midst of selecting ice skaters for the Philippines Sea Games on Nov 30-Dec 11.