Dubai
For Amira Abdul Moati, the 14th UAE National Figure Skating Championships at Al Nasr Leisureland was just another step in her ultimate goal of putting UAE on the world figure skating map. The Emirati girl, who represented Dubai’s Ice Stars Skating Club, won silver in the technical platinum level and was placed fourth in the artistic event. And in an interview to XPRESS, the 14-year-old says that winning a medal was not her target.
“My programmes are designed for ISU (International Skating Union) competitions and do not fit to ISI format (International Skating Institute, the system for recreational sport only) in terms of the length of the programmes, types of elements, step sequences, presentation, etc,” she said.
“I did not expect any medal in either competition - Abu Dhabi and Dubai, since both events were for recreational sports only and there are big differences between ISU and ISI systems. I am happy that I was allowed to participate in the competition despite the fact that I do not do recreational sport. I used both competitions (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) as platforms for gaining local experience in competitions, in order to perform internationally. Therefore, I was not much concerned about the medal positions. I knew already that my programmes did not fit to the requirements and most of the elements wouldn’t be counted and there will be penalty for the length of music.”
Following her trip to Vienna, Amira took part in the Desert Open Figure Skating Championship in Abu Dhabi and believes that her performance in Dubai was better than the one in the Capital.
“My Dubai performance was better than Abu Dhabi; it was more confident and mature. I did better presentation and interpretation - no failing in my free programme, excellent spins, better step sequences, higher speed. In my short program, I failed once, trying to perform double axel, but the jump is very close,” she said.
“My short-term plan is to stabilise double axel by the end of summer. My spins are good already and get the highest marks in international competitions (level 4). However, I need to work on stability. My step sequences were better this time (than in Abu Dhabi); clearer and faster. I am getting level 2 for my step sequences in international competitions, but I need to work on my edges and speed, to get stability and level 3. Jumps are still the main challenge for me and I also have to work on triple jumps. For that again, I have to work on my edges, push-off and landing. Physically I am perfectly fit for triple jumps,” she added.
The figure skating prodigy’s quest for stardom from such an early age – she started figure skating at 3 and half years – wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her mother Larissa Zaplatinskaia and other people around her.
“I want to emphasize that whatever I have achieved and whatever I will achieve is because of the collective efforts of many people; Zsolt Kerekes (my coach), Naomi Bedo, Luda Kalenuk, Antonina Pashkovskaya, the management of Abu Dhabi, Al Nasr Leisureland, and Dubai Mall ice rinks, who accommodate my skating needs and provide full support and dedication in everyday practice,” she said.
Amira’s next tournament is likely to be in October in Spain. She will compete in two tournaments once competition season resumes in September. During summer she will undergo intensive training to be ready for Europe.
