She’s only seven – but Sree is fire on ice when skating

PETALING JAYA: Precocious skater C. Sree Abiraame (pic) has a determined and positive outlook in life.

And that’s a mindset that has driven the seven-year-old Sree to what she is today.

And when things go wrong as it did at the Under-9 mixed group competition at the ISI Asia Skate championships in Beijing, China, last week, Sree’s sad face said it all.

She had targetted six gold medals but ended up with five instead and finished second in the footwork 1 event.

And the tears were evident as the lass from Selangor recalled: “I was sad to get one silver. I wanted six golds.”

She won the artistic freestyle competition even though she was having a fever and was coughing due to the cold conditions.

The other gold medals came from solo competition FS, FS one finals, speed skating final and open FS Bronze events.

Sree’s father B. Chendren attributed her success to her discipline and single-mindedness to achieve her goals.

“She was so disappointed to lose that one event she started crying. Then, she reassured me that she will win the others, and fulfilled her words,” said Chendren.

“She trains 25-30 hours before every competition. She is quiet, shy at home and school but when she is on the ice rink, she is in her element.

Sree’s ultimate goal is to win a medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

“We have charted our roadmap for her and I know she can do it. We’re planning to send her to Russia for two years to do intensive training,” said Chendren.

Sree started the year with a bang when she won golds in the FS 1, 400m speed skating, solo compulsory FS 1, footwork FS 1 and artistic freestyle in the Middle East ISI Skating Competition in Abu Dhabi in February.

Fans can catch Sree in action in her next competition – the ISI Asia Skate Malaysia – from June 28 to 30 at Sunway Pyramid ice skating rink.- Star