Egypt’s First Figure Skating Championships

Ice Skate Egypt, the official governing body of the sport of figure skating in Egypt, hosted its first-ever National Championships on July 6, 2019, in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian figure skaters from countries around the world competed in this historic event as this also marks the first winter sports championship in Egypt.

The four talented athletes, Salma El Sakka, Sarah Abu El Soud, Sophia Awny, and Bahira El-Mantawi, were judged by a panel of four ISU Judges.

Mr. Zsolt Kerekes of Hungary, a world-renowned international skating coach, and an ISU development program affiliate is the advisor to Ice Skate Egypt and has helped organize this championship with Dr. Heba Guirgis, Ice Skate Egypt Founder.  The three categories held at this event are determined by age and each competitor is given a certain number of points for each element, which is then added for the total score along with presentation and grace.

The Cubs (ages 8-10) Champion Salma El Sakka skated to “Maria Maria” by Santana, and the silver medalist Sarah Abu El Soud’s performance was “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. Sophia Awny, the Intermediate Novice Ladies (age <15) Champion skated to a “Tango Medley

” by Cirque de Soleil and the Cello Project. Bahira El Mantawi earned the Junior Ladies Title with her programs to “Bring me to life” and an “Arabic Medley” of Arabia by Hanine el Alam, and Harem by Sarah Brightman.  The event was concluded with a beautiful awards ceremony that followed all traditional protocols and a moment to take photos to document all these historic and unique moments in.

The awards were presented by Major General Ahmed Nasser, president of the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC); His Excellency Dr. Emad El-Bannany, President of Sports for All Federation, and former minister of Youth and Sports Ministry in Egypt; Dr. Bahga Rizk, President of Ice Skate Egypt Committee and Dr. Heba Guirgis, Founder of Ice Skate Egypt.

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