12 Year Old Aims For Malaysia S First Winter Olympic Gold

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Sree Abiraame B Chendren is determined to represent Malaysia at the Winter Olympics in 2030. (Sree Abiraame B Chendren pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Olympics might be yesterday’s news for most, but for one determined Malaysian, the real challenge is just beginning.
At just 12 years old, Sree Abiraame B Chendren – dubbed the Ice Princess – is laser-focused on winning Malaysia’s first-ever Winter Olympic gold at the 2030 Games in the French Alps.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle Sree shared: 
This year, I got first at Indonesia’s Skate Bandung Championship in January. In June, I also was first at the President Cup in Busan, then recently in August, I placed third at the Sea Trophy in the Philippines, second in Skate Asia Taiwan, and just a few days ago, first at the Gimhae Open Trophy in Korea.
Holy Moly! Out of 28 international championships she’s competed in over the past eight years, Sree has snagged a jaw-dropping 75 gold medals, 10 silver, and nine bronze.
The ‘Ice Princess’ stepped into her first pair of skates at just three years old. (Sree Abiraame B Chendren pic)What’s impressive is that she is holding her own against seasoned athletes from Korea and Europe. For her family, Sree’s success is especially significant not just for Malaysia, but also for the Indian community in the country.

Throughout the world, you don’t see many Indian faces achieving big in winter sports, her father, Chendren, noted.
Sree’s journey on the ice began at three years old in the most unexpected way. 
It was total coincidence. We went to a mall in Malaysia that had just opened an ice skating rink, Chendren said about what started it all for his daughter.
Having previously travelled to Europe and experienced snow, Sree was begging to get on the ice. To everyone’s amazement, while many first-timers struggled to stand, this tiny girl was gliding effortlessly as if born to skate. No wonder she’s called the Ice Princess!
Before long, Sree began competitive figure skating, embracing the disciplined life of an athlete. 
At first, I was doing it for fun, but later I decided that I wanted to represent Malaysia, she shared.
Sree earned a place in the Asia Book of Records in 2019 as the youngest to win medals in international figure skating. (Sree Abiraame B Chendren pic)
Seeing her commitment and how hard she works, I’m very proud to be her father, Chendren expressed.
But Sree’s rise hasn’t come without sacrifices. “In 2015, she experienced a fall on the ice and faced many injuries. She had to be hospitalised, and rested for three months.

At one point, as parents, we said that’s it, she’s not going to skate anymore. Her grandmother was also very much against it because she’s their youngest grandchild, he added.
But Sree’s passion for skating wouldn’t let her stay away from the ice, and she eventually convinced her parents to let her return to the rink, without her grandmother’s knowledge.
In August this year, Sree placed second at Skate Asia in Taiwan, the largest recreational ice-skating competition in the continent. (Sree Abiraame B Chendren pic)And it paid off. Sree was declared a record-holder in the Malaysia Book of Records as the youngest to win the 
Skate Asia Figure Skating Competition in 2017, and then earning a spot in the Asia Book of Records in 2019.
Sree, who previously trained in Latvia, moved to Korea with her mother in 2022 to prioritise her training. 
We’re very proud to say that Sree is fluent in Korean. She’s one of the best students in her class, Chendren said.
Though he still works in Malaysia, Chendren frequently travels to support his daughter at major competitions. As his only child, Chendren is determined to support her dreams. 
Of course, financially it has been very difficult for us, he admitted.
To help support Sree’s Olympic ambitions, the family set up the Sree Abiraame Foundation.
“In 2021, FMT helped us collect more than RM600,000 through crowdfunding for Sree, and we’re very thankful to Malaysians for that,” he said.
Despite the challenges, this 12-year-old’s passion and determination as an athlete are set to take her far. (Sree Abiraame B Chendren pic)However, the journey is far from over. With expenses for flights, training, skates, and costumes adding up, the family continues to fund Sree’s dream largely out of their own pockets.

A lot of it is from selling our house, cars, and dipping into our KWSP, Chendren revealed.
But for Sree and her family, it’s all worth it. 
I want to one day say that, even though Malaysia is a small tropical country, we too can win a medal at the Winter Olympics, he said.
He added, 
We want to fly the Jalur Gemilang high in front of the whole world. - FMT
Follow Sree Abiraame B Chendren on Facebook. Donate to the Sree Abiraame Foundation here.

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