Let the Championship Begin….
Sunway Pyramid Ice is proud to announce the 14th edition of Skate Malaysia and 3rd series of the prestigious Ice Skating Institute Asia (ISIAsia) Championship series happening from 22nd June to 25th June 2023.
This year, Sunway Pyramid Ice is hosting the biggest Skate Malaysia event ever with an impressive line-up of 450 skaters from seven countries; Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, China, USA and Kuwait.
Skate Malaysia 2023 is a significant milestone for both ice skating enthusiasts and athletes in Asia. The international ice skating competition is hosted by Sunway Pyramid Ice with support from the Ice Skating Association of Malaysia (ISAM) who have joined hands in commitment to organising this annual ice skating competition since the late 90’s.
As the 3rd series of the ISIAsia Championship series, Skate Malaysia 2023 holds a special place in the hearts of participants and spectators. Endorsed by the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports, this event has garnered international recognition as an influential platform for promoting and developing winter sports.
Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh launched the championship on Thursday June 22 evening. She was accompanied by HC Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Malls & Theme Parks; Harry Janto Leo, Skate Malaysia Competition Director & President of Ice Skating Institute Asia (ISIAsia); Billy Johan, President of Ice Skating Association of Malaysia (ISAM); and Albert Cheok, Assistant General Manager of Sunway Pyramid Ice, Sunway Giza Mall & Sunway SQ Mall.
HC Chan, CEO of Sunway Malls & Theme Parks shared “as Malaysia’s longest service ice-rink, we are certainly honoured to contribute to the development of ice-skating as a sport for all. This is imperative as it continues to lay the foundation of development for the ice skating community in Asia to scale greater heights.”
“We are proud to once again host the Skate Malaysia competition in our rink. Every year, we look forward to nurturing young skaters who bravely gathered to showcase their skills whilst vying for top honours. It’s a stepping stone to gaining experience and to scale greater heights,” said Albert Cheok, Assistant General Manager of Sunway Pyramid Ice, Sunway Giza Mall & Sunway SQ Mall.
“Sunway Pyramid Ice today is extremely well-known as a central venue that provides adequate facilities for the ice-skating community and we aim to continue our legacy as a leading pioneer in this niche yet popular sport,” he added.
The opening ceremony of Skate Malaysia 2023 was launched with a grand parade of flags and with captivating performances by talented skaters of Sunway Pyramid Ice’s Skating Academy.
Alongside the seasoned skaters, Fang Ze Zeng also graces the ice stage with a dynamic performance. The 19-year-old Malaysian Figure Skater has been competing internationally in the individual men’s category and has brought home titles such as Senior Champion of Malaysia National 2023, Gold medallist from the Thailand Open Figure Skating Trophy 2023 and the SEA Figure Skating Thailand 2018.
Ze Zeng has also been participating in Skate Malaysia since 2016 and returns this year to defend his championship title against new participants.
Sunway Pyramid Ice is a preferred training ground for winter sports, grooming thousands of ice skaters and hosting renowned international competitions such as Skate Malaysia, Skate Asia, and World Ice Hockey tournaments.
The Sunway Pyramid Ice Academy has trained over 7,000 students, some of whom have gone on to become professional coaches or actively participate in international competitions.
Over the past 26 years, Sunway Pyramid Ice’s Ice-Skating Academy has nurtured more than 21,000 ice skaters, encouraging them to discover their true potential in the winter sport. Many students have taken up ice skating as a leisure activity, while others have pursued competitive careers.