PH skaters gearing up for 2019 SEA Games

Tournaments here and abroad are lined up for Philippine ice skaters as they look to secure most of the gold medals in the 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Skating Union (PSU) president Josie Veguillas said national ice skaters would kick off their preparations with the Philippine Open Short Track Championships on Thursday at SM Megamall rink.

The all-Filipino event will stake prizes in the 250-meter, 500m and 1000m speed skating events in preparation for a series of overseas tournaments leading to the Games.

“We have to make sure that our skaters will come up with the best performance in the SEA Games,” said Veguillas.

“We have to make our countrymen proud of them.”

Two-time Winter Olympics figure skater Michael Martinez landed a silver medal in the SEA Games last year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while speed skater Kathryn Magno barely missed the podium after winding up fourth.

According to PSU sports director Christopher Martin, Filipinos will also compete in Australia on Oct. 1 to 4 and in an all-American tournament in Utah on Nov. 9 to 11.

They are also bound for Jakarta, Indonesia, in December for the Asian Open and the SEA Trophy in Singapore in January.

“We’re joining all of these tournaments in preparation for the SEA Games. Hopefully, we can have all the events during our hosting,” said Veguillas.