Philippine men's curling team wins first gold at Asian Winter Games

The Philippine men's curling team, Curling Pilipinas, won its country's first-ever gold medal at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China on Friday, February 14.

Team members Alan Frei, Marc Pfister, Enrico Pfister, Christian Haller, and Benjo Delarmente expressed confidence in their chances of qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics pre-qualifiers scheduled from October 17 to October 24.

Delarmente noted that securing a top-three finish at the pre-Olympic qualifier will earn them a spot in the Olympic Qualification Event (OQE) on December 6 to December 13, where the top two teams qualify for the Winter Olympics.

The team aims to establish curling more firmly within the country's Olympic program and promote it in schools and universities through initiatives like floor curling, suitable for tropical climates.

With this victory, the team hopes to inspire a rise in interest among Filipinos of all ages and secure funding from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for future competitions.