Philippine Skaters Place in ISU World Development Trophy

(30 April 2014, Pasay City, Philippines)  Two Philippine skaters bagged silver and bronze medals in the International Skating Union (ISU) World Development Trophy  held last April 26, 2014 at the SM Skating Rink in the newly opened Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall.

Sofia Guidote, 12, who competed in the Basic Novice A Girls category, placed second following a gold finish by Hyang Mi Ro of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Jaydean Brits of the Republic of South Africa finished third.


Basic Novice A Girls Category: (from left to right) Sofia Isabel Guidote of the Philippines (silver medal); Hyang Mi Ro from DPR Korea (gold medal); Jaydean Brits of the Republic of South Africa (bronze medal)

 


Silver medallist Sofia Guidote of the Philippines


Basic Novice B Girls Category (from left to right): Courtney Kuhn of the Republic of South Africa (silver medal); Un Hyang Kim of DPR Korea (gold medal) and Elia Mendoza of the Philippines (bronze medal)

 

Elia Mendoza, 14, finished third in the Basic Novice B category, following Courtney Kuhn of the Republic of South Africa who clinched a silver medal, and Un Hyang Kim who bagged the gold.

For the Novice A Boys Category, Luc Ong of Singapore grabbed the gold while Yong Myong Ro of DPR Korea dominated the Basic Novice B Boys Level.

In the Junior Ladies’ Final, Chloe Ing of Singapore earned the gold medal with 119.49 points while Julian Zhi Jie Yee topped the Junior Men Final with 150.54 points.

This is the last time that the ISU World Development Trophy will be held in the country after the Philippines, through the Philippine Skating Union (PhSU) produced an Olympian in Michael Christian Martinez.  

 A total of 56 skaters from 15 countries vied for the championship, particularly from the Philippines, Argentina, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Korea DPR, Singapore, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.  


SM Prime Holdings, Inc. President Hans Sy (fifth from left, back row), ISU Development Coordinator Gyorgy Sallak (sixth from left in black suit) and Philippine Skating Union President Manuel Veguillas III  (center in a brown suit) join the winners and finalists in the recently held ISU World Development Trophy at the skating rink in Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall. 


Olympian Michael Christian Martinez performs at the finale of the ISU Development Trophy held at the skating rink of the Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall

 

The PhSU is the governing body in the country for figure skating and speed skating. With the sustained support and confidence of the ISU, the PhSU is geared towards hosting future international events such as the Asian Short Track Speed Skating Development Trophy, the 1st ISU Asian Figure Skating Championship, and eventually the ISU World Juniors and the ISU Four Continents Championships. The PhSU works persistently towards the promotion of the sport in the Philippines and throughout the world.  

SM has been the primary supporter of the PhSU and competitive ice skating since the latter was established in 2005. SM also provides a venue for the events of PhSU for the promotion of ice skating in the Philippines. PhSU received accreditation from the ISU in 2006, coinciding with the opening of the Olympic-sized SM Mall of Asia skating rink that year.  In turn, PhSU, as the sole governing body for Figure and Speed Skating, provides SM and its ice skating rinks with marketing tools such as local and international skating events and its network of skating athletes.

Through the years, SM and the PhSU have conducted several figure skating competitions that have given birth to international champions such as Michael Christian Martinez. The excellence demonstrated by skaters, especially during competitions is a mark of quality that the SM Skating Rink can provide with its world-class venue and facilities. SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. is the sole operator of skating rinks in the Philippines at the SM Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, and SM Southmall in Las Pinas.

For information, contact:

Mr. Raymund Retumban
Division Manager – SM Ice Skating Rinks
SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc.   
raymund.retumban@smsupermalls.com
Tel.No.  (+63917) 5525142

Mr. Noel Resultay
Senior Operations Manager for SM Skating Southmall  
SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc.   
noel.resultay@smsupermalls.com
Tel. No. (+63917) 8317228

Date: 

Wednesday, April 30, 2014