By At just five years old, Mallak Faisal Zafar began training as a figure skater in Pakistan. A lack of adequate facilities eventually led her family to Dubai, where she currently resides. Now at 12-years-old, Zafar has her first international title.
Last year, at the 24th International Eiscup Innsbruck 2019 (Nov. 22-24), she placed first in the Basic Novice Girls II category. There were over 200 participants from countries known for having amazing figure skating programs, like Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.
What will the future hold for Pakistani ice skating? Zafar has her eyes set on competing for Pakistan at the Winter Olympics. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics could usher in a new, more diverse era of international figure skating as U.A.E.’s Zahra Lari pushes toward the same goal.
Watch her amazing moves below.