S'PORE 'BELONGS' ON WINTER SPORTS STAGE

Republic's first skating official at Asian Winter Games hopes her feat sends a signal

- Kimberly Kwek

When Sonja Chong dons her officials' uniform for the Asian Winter Games on Feb 7, her role in Harbin will go beyond ensuring that the short track speed skating competition runs smoothly.

A starter for the sport at the Feb 7-14 event, Chong is the first skating official from South-east Asia at the Games, and she hopes her involvement will encourage more to follow in her footsteps.

Also joining her in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province are Team Singapore's 23-strong contingent, who will compete in short track speed skating, alpine skiing and ice hockey.

The 59-year-old said: "This moment is proof that winter sports are no longer confined to traditional strongholds; we belong on this stage too.

"I hope my journey paves the way for more officials from developing skating nations to step forward and take their place at the highest levels of the sport."

Chong, who was Singapore Ice Skating Association (Sisa) president from 2007 to 2019, will be at the quadrennial Games as one of two starters, which involves her pulling the trigger of the gun that kicks off a race.