The Philippines men’s curling team made history on Feb. 14 by securing the country’s first gold medal at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.
Led by Marc Pfister, the team triumphed over the Republic of Korea with a 5-3 victory at the roaring game.
Curling is a team sport played on a rectangular sheet of ice, with two teams of either two or four players. The sport’s nickname, “the roaring game”, comes from the rumbling sound which the granite stones make as they slide across the ice.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) took to Instagram to celebrate the team’s historic achievement, congratulating Marc Pfister, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, and alternate Benjo Delarmente.
“This is the first-ever medal for the Philippines at the Asian Winter Games, and the highest achievement for a Southeast Asian athlete in the Games’ history! What an incredible accomplishment! You’ve made the entire country so proud!” the POC wrote in their post.
The men’s curling lead Marc Pfister and his brother Enrico Pfister were born in Switzerland but are eligible to play for the Philippines through their Filipino mothers.
Pfister and his team had to train abroad due to the lack of curling facilities in the country.
“We are a country na walang winter. But again, we conquered. It was a sweet victory and it was a history… kaya ng Pinoy. It’s a combination of billiards, chess, bowling, which we all excel,” said Richard Lim, chef de mission of then Philippine Team in the Asian Winter Games.
Upon their return to Manila, the team was warmly welcomed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). Following their groundbreaking achievement, the PSC is planning to introduce curling and other unconventional sports to aspiring Filipino athletes.
This triumph has also earned the Philippine curling team a spot in the 2026 Olympic pre-qualifiers, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the country.
