Halfway there

Global Skills Challenge Summit, day 1 completed

08.07.2015
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Japanese player Sena Takenaka has been the best female skater on Day 1 of the Global Skills Challenge Summit. Photo: Toni Saarinen

VIERUMAKI – With half of the skills at the Global Skills Challenge Summit completed, optimism is in plentiful supply as the contest for places at the 2016 Youth Olympic Winter Games is hotting up.

Held in conjunction with the 14th IIHF Hockey Development Camp, 67 boys and girls from across the globe have come together in Vierumaki to compete at the Global Skills Challenge Summit.

15 female and 15 male athletes will seal a place at the 2016 Youth Olympic Winter Games held in Norway's Lillehammer, 12-21 February 2016.

Following three days of introduction, practice drills and seeding of the competitors, it now got down to more serious business as the Global Skills Challenge Summit got underway in Vierumaki.

During day one skills such as Fastest Lap, Shooting Accuracy and Skating Agility were severely put to its test as participants who had from travelled near and far competed in a knockout series in each of the events.

"I was a little bit nervous before the start and just wanted to do my best," said Madison Poole ahead of the first event, Fastest Lap. Having travelled from Perth in Western Australia any signs of stage fright seemed to be quickly forgotten as she got off to a flyer to win the inaugural skills event in the competition for girls.

"I started to skate five-six years ago. I went down to a public skate session and that is how I got started," said Poole, who now hopes her great start will help her in her quest to soon get on another long-haul flight from the Antipodes to the Nordic region when Lillehammer comes calling.

While Australia has reasons to celebrate, South America's only female competitor, Iara Haiek, did not have the same fortune, but is clenching her first as she refuses to give up too easily.

"I was very nervous so I fell down in the curve," said the competitor from Argentina born 2001 of her experience in the first event. Since then she picked herself up and cheered on by her dad she appears to have lost little hope in her ability to bounce back during day two.

"I know I have to work a lot but I want to go to Olympics," the Argentine said.

Delighted to be in Finland is Kazakhstan's female competitor Takhmina Zaripova. "It is an awesome experience to be here with people from all over the world, and it is something I would like to do again," she said.

It could turn into reality sooner than expected as she aims to be one of the 15 girls travelling to Lillehammer and has her favourite event, the Fastest Shot to look forward to tomorrow.

One seemingly destined for Lillehammer is Germany's Erik Betzold. Hailing from Nordhausen in Thuringia, the 15-year-old prospect now playing in Cologne won two out of three skills events during the first day.

"Despite scoring three times I was knocked out in the first round of the Shooting Accuracy competition, so that was not too good, but in the skating skills I've done pretty well," he said following victories in both Fastest Lap and Skating Agility.

With day two and three of events looming, remaining skill competitions such as Fastest Shot, Passing Precision and Puck Control will offer many nervy moments in the quest to keep the dream of competing for medals at the Youth Olympic Winter Games next year. The Skills Challenge Summit will come to a close on Friday. Despite the outcome, one who is sure to make the most of it is Qatar's Ahmad Al Obaidli.

"I am really happy to be here and I feel I have improved a lot during this week," said the 2002-born youngster from Doha. "I see and learn from my other friends and competitors here and this is what keeps me going."

Global Skills Challenge Summit, Day 1 winners:

Female:
Fastest Lap: Madison Poole, Australia
Shooting Accuracy: Kristine Melberg, Denmark
Skating Agility: Sena Takenaka, Japan

Male:
Fastest Lap: Erik Betzold, Germany
Shooting Accuracy: Benjamin Baumgartner, Austria
Skating Agility: Erik Betzold, Germany

Full Results: Men, Women

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