Martinez masisilayan sa pagbubukas ng isang skating event sa Megamall

MANILA, Philippines -Mapapanood si Olympian Michael Christian Martinez sa kanyang special opening number sa harap ng 56 skaters mula sa 15 bansa na maglalaban-laban sa ISU World Development Trophy skating event simula alas 9:30 ng umaga ngayon sa SM Megamall Skating Rink.

Magpapamalas ng galing ang mga skaters mula sa Philippines, Argentina, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, North Korea, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, UAE at Uzbekistan na may edad 11-16 para sa karapatang mapasama sa training camp sa ilalim ng top-caliber ISU coach.

Noong nakaraang taon, naging host din ang Philippine Skating Union (PhSU) ng naturang event sa SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink na nilahukan ng 11 bansa.

“This could be the last time we’re hosting the World Development Trophy because of Michael Martinez,” sabi ni PHSU president Pocholo Veguillas, na nagsabi ring kinokosidera na ang Philippines bilang ‘developed ice ska-ting country’ matapos ang pagkakasama ni Martinez sa nakaraang Winter Olympics sa Sochi, Russia.

“The International Skating Union is now offering us to host much bigger competitions. We have a forth-coming summit, and we’ll formally know the events they’re giving us,” ani Veguillas na nagsabi ring posibleng mag-host ang Pinas ng Four Continents cham-pionships sa hinaharap.

“That’s the biggest event next to the world championship since ska-ters all over the world, except from Europe, compete there,” dagdag pa ni Veguillas. “Thanks to Michael Martinez, ice skating is big now in the country. Skaters have increased. There are many kids, aged six to 12, interested in getting into it,” ani Manuelito Sultay, SM skating rink operations manager.