We are supportive, but need to abide by rules: sports bodies on Sree Abiraame

KUALA LUMPUR – Ice Skating Association of Malaysia (Isam) has hit back at Chendren Balakrishnan, father to figure-skating darling C. Sree Abiraame, over his claims that the government has not been supportive of his daughter becoming a national athlete despite having more than 50 gold medals to her name.

On Monday, The Vibes reported that Chendren had been relying on public and private company donations to support his nine-year-old daughter’s training and participation in competitions after draining his savings and selling his assets.

To get to the bottom of the matter, The Vibes reached out to Isam president Mohamad Fadzli Johan, who said that necessary assistance was provided and that Chendren was advised on his next course of action.

“We did help Chendren and his daughter. But there are rules, protocols and procedures that need to be adhered to in order to obtain assistance from the government,” said Fadzli.

“For example, we did assist them to get sponsorship from private entities, which was when we helped Chendren set up the Sree Abiraame Foundation.

Fadzli said Isam, Selangor Ice Skating Association (Sisa), and the Youth and Sports Ministry have been assisting Chendren register his daughter for overseas competitions, for without their help, Sree Abiraame would not be able to participate.

“Isam helped Chendren by issuing a letter to request for sponsorships − not to the government but the private sector − because we can only assist his daughter in writing.

“To participate in any overseas competition, Sree Abiraame must get an endorsement from the association. She can’t go by herself.

“When it comes to funding, Sree Abiraame is not qualified to get any from the association because we have our protocols based on the International Skating Union (ISU), which states that applicants must be at least 13 years old.

“Once she is of age, then we can look into sponsoring her flight ticket, hotel accommodation, coaching and everything else. She is currently nine years old, hence by rule of age, she is not qualified.”

He added that Sree Abiraame is not qualified to obtain direct sponsorship from the Youth and Sports Ministry.

“I have met Chendren, the relevant government agencies and the ministry, to find out how we can go about helping her on her (athletic) journey, in which Chendren agreed.”

Fadzli, who is also Sisa president, said that the competitions Sree Abiraame had participated in were organised by ISIAsia − a private company that was not affiliated with ISU.

“Another sad fact is that Sree Abiraame received her medals under the ISIAsia, which does not have any ties to ISU, nor does it have any ties with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), the International Olympic Council (IOC) or the Youth and Sports Ministry.

“Their ice-skating events are not related to, or endorsed by, any Olympic sporting body − these events were organised for recreation purposes.

“To participate in ISIAsia competitions, you would have to pay about US$100 (RM415.20) per event, but if you are competing under the ISU, you wouldn’t need to pay a single cent.”

Under the ISU rules, an athlete needs to be at least 13 years old to participate in the Junior Grand Prix.

Only after an athlete participates in an ISU-endorsed competition, only then can they be considered as national ice skaters.

On how Fadzli can help Sree Abiraame achieve her dream of becoming an Olympian, he said: “Once the borders are open, we will bring her and her coach (from Latvia) and train her in Malaysia − under Isam and Sisa − for the Junior Grand Prix, which consequently makes her eligible for the 2026 Youth Winter Olympics.

“It will be more beneficial for her because she will be placed under our care. The government cannot provide a grant to an individual but the government can provide a grant to an association to conduct a training camp for young, potential athletes, such as Abiraame.”

One such athlete was national figure skater and 2017 SEA Games gold medallist, Julian Yee, who faced a similar situation as Sree Abiraame.

In his interview with Kyodo News, 24-year-old Julian said crowdfunding and private sponsors helped him to get to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, National Sports Council (NSC) Director-General Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail told The Vibes that the assistance mentioned by former youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican in his Facebook post has been fulfilled.

“As requested by Chendren, we had issued a tax exemption letter for the Sree Abiraame Foundation.

“However, due to the foundation’s sports categorisation, all contributions and donations need to be made through NSC or OCM for tax-exemption purposes. That’s the requirement. The money can then be channelled to the foundation.

“We also provided Chendren’s wife with a resident permit to stay in Latvia for Sree Abiraame’s training. We did provide support − just not in monetary terms because we can’t.”

He suggested that Chendren and his wife bring their daughter home from Latvia once the borders reopen so Sree Abiraame can be trained here under the support of the government, reducing the burden of training expenses. – The Vibes, November 11, 2021