RP skaters eye Winter Games qualifying slots

MANILA, Philippines - Two slots in the last Winter Olympics qualifying tournament scheduled in September will be up for grabs when the country’s top figure skaters vie in the 2009 Philippine Figure Skating Championships on July 18 and 19 at the SM Mall of Asia International Skating Rink in Pasay City.

Organized by the Philippine Ice Skating Union headed by president, Engr. Ric Camaligan, the event will pick one male and female skaters who will compete in the Nebelhorn Trophy in Obsertdorf, Germany from Sept. 23 to 26.

The event serves as the last qualifier to the 2010 Winter Olympics scheduled in Vancouver, Canada in February.

“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,” Camaligan said.

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

Sports fans will have a double treat at the SM MOA skating rink as the national championships coincides with the staging of the First Philippine International Ice Hockey Tournament.

Featuring teams from the Philippines, China, Thailand and Qatar, this inaugural ice hockey competition is an undertaking of 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,” PIE president Sharm Macalua said.