Slots sa Winter Olympics qualifying asinta ng Pinoy skaters

MANILA, Philippines - Dalawang slots sa Winter Olympics qualifying tournament sa Setyembre ang nakataya ang paglalabanan ng mga pangunahing figure skaters sa bansa sa 2009 Philippine Figure Skating Championships sa July 18 at 19 sa SM Mall of Asia International Skating Rink sa Pasay City.

Inorganisa ng Philippine Ice Skating Union na pinamumunuan ni Engr. Ric Camaligan, ang event ay pipili ng isang lalake at isang babaeng skater na sasabak sa Nebelhorn Trophy sa Obsertdorf, Germany sa September 23-26.

Ang event ay magsisilbi ding huling qualifier para sa 2010 Winter Olympics na nakatakda sa Vancouver, Canada sa Pebrero.

“With the caliber of today’s Filipino ice figure skaters, we are optimistic that the two qualifiers from the nationals will deserve to compete for our country in the Nebelhorn Trophy,” ani Camaligan.

“And should we get enough breaks, who knows? We may finally see Filipino figure skaters vying in next year’s Vancouver Winter Olympics.”

Mabibigyan ng double treat ang mga sports fan sa SM MOA skating rink na makakasaksi din ng national championships ng First Philippine International Ice Hockey Tournament.

Tampok ang mga koponan mula sa Philippines, China, Thailand at Qatar, sa inaugural ice hockey competition na ito na inorganisa ng First Philippine Ice Events (PIE) Org.

“We hope to introduce Filipino sports fans to the excitement and thrills of ice hockey, a taxing yet engrossing spectator sport,” ani PIE president Sharm Macalua.