Top performers in the Southeast Asian Skating Challenge 2017 show off their medals at the conclusion of the two-day competition yesterday at the SM Seaside City Cebu.
CDN PHOTO/GLENDALE G. ROSAL
Bigger competitions eyed in Cebu after successful staging of Southeast Asian Skating Challenge 2017
Expect more figure skating competitions to be held in Cebu soon.
Seeing the success of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Skating Challenge 2017 held over the weekend at the SM Seaside City Cebu skating rink, officials who handled the competition believed Cebu is ready to host bigger international tournaments in the future.
Philippine Skating Union (PHSU) sports director Christopher Martin said they had a meeting with the foreign officials and said they are looking to organize another international tournament at the Seaside rink.
“We’re very happy because of the effort of the PHSU, SM Lifestyle and SM Seaside City Cebu,” Martin said. “I think this is a big success because we were on time and technically we had a smooth, organized event.
The event happened right after the skating camp here in Cebu that’s why it really reflects that we are improving.”
Martin also said officials from the International Skating Union (ISU) were impressed with the venue and the rink, which they said is ideal for international events.
Another measure of success is the number of spectators during the two-day international tournament. “Everybody’s happy, many people appreciated the event and a lot of people watched it,” Martin added.
Meanwhile, PHSU skaters bagged eight gold medals, three silvers and one bronze in the inaugural international figure skating tilt.
The gold medalists were Bianca Arianne Vinarao in the basic senior ladies, Jules Alpe in the junior men’s division, Keith Stephanie Angeles in the basic junior ladies, Ella Marie Mendoza (junior ladies), Diane Gabrielle Panlilio (advance novice girls), Charmaine Skye Chua (basic novice B), Kate Orrock (basic novice A), and Hayden Isabel Balucating (juvenile girls).