Home teams blaze the ice
MALAYSIAN ice rinks clinched the top two spots in the Skate Malaysia 2025 championship.
Sunway Pyramid Ice defended its first place, marking the fourth consecutive year it won the title.
Blue Ice Skating Rink @ KL East Mall secured second place.
Third place went to Sub Zero Sukhumvit from Thailand, while Oasis Centre Arena and BX Rink, both from Indonesia, finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Skate Malaysia 2025 athletes performing in the opening ceremony and (left) athletes in a group photo during the championship at Sunway Pyramid Ice.
Four of the five athletes named as the top five best performers were also Malaysians, according to a statement by Sunway Pyramid Ice, which hosted the competition.
They were Cassius Leong and Jenelle Sia Ee Xuenn from Sunway Pyramid Ice, and Chanice Low Xin Yu and Elizabeth Kim Niang Huai from Blue Ice Skating Rink @ KL East Mall.
The fifth athlete was Thailand's Maneejan Wilairat of Sub-Zero Ice Skate Club Mega Bangna.
Jenelle, 14, performed alongside students from Sunway Pyramid Ice Academy to welcome guests and visiting countries during the competition's opening ceremony.
Present at the opening ceremony were Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng, Skate Malaysia competition director and Ice Skating Institute Asia president Harry Janto Leo and Ice Skating Association of Malaysia president Billy Johan.
Over 600 athletes from seven countries participated in the competition, which marks its 17th edition this year.
A total of 20 ice rinks from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Singapore and United States competed in 1,700 programmes throughout the five-day event.
Athletes were evaluated on their knowledge and execution of manoeuvres, dance choreography, musical interpretation and more, depending on the criteria.
The annual ice skating competition was also supported by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Sunway Malls Selangor senior general manager Jason Chin said that ice skating has grown exponentially and gained international recognition in recent years.
'Throughout the 28 years of Sunway Pyramid Ice, we have seen a steady growth of interest and participation in ice skating.
'We are optimistic that ice skating will gain more awareness and interest, as we are committed to making winter sports more accessible,' he said.
Albert Cheok, assistant general manager of Sunway Pyramid Ice, Sunway Square Mall and Sunway Giza Mall, said Perak's first ice skating rink in Sunway Ipoh Mall is slated to be completed in the next two to three years.
'Ultimately, we endeavour to make ice skating more enjoyable as a leisure activity and competitive winter sport,' he said.
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