Figure skating under way at MOA rink

MANILA, Philippines - The SM Mall of Asia plays host to another high-class figure skating competition today when as many as 53 foreign skaters and their Filipino counterparts vie in the 2013 International Skating Union World Development Trophy.

Action starts at 12 noon at the popular Mall of Asia ice-skating rink. It will be open and free to the public.

The ISU World Development Trophy 2013 is the first figure skating competition that features top-figure skaters in the world from countries which are members of the International Skating Union (ISU) that have limited level of activity in various ISU (International Skating Union) sports disciplines. 

The competition is aimed at providing an incentive to ISU members, encouraging further involvement in the ISU sports discipline which aims to further the competence of each country specifically in figure skating (ice dance) and short track speed skating.

The participants will be asked to perform their best routines before a distinguished panel of judges. Trophies will be awarded to the winners.

It is the first World Development Trophy competition to be held outside Europe. The event is organized by the SM International Ice Skating Rink, and drew entries from 13 foreign countries.

As a prelude to today’s competition, a training camp was held since Tuesday until yesterday, and provided the participants an intensive development program.

Among the foreign countries who brought their representatives here are Argentina, Grenada, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Uzbekistan.