The Philippines curling team made history in Harbin by winning the country’s first-ever medal at the Asian Winter Games. The team, consisting of Marc Pfister, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, and alternate Benjo Delarmente, secured a gold medal with a 5-3 victory over South Korea in the men’s final at the Harbin Pingfang Curling Arena.
The Philippines Olympic Committee quickly shared the achievement on Instagram, celebrating the milestone as the country’s first medal at the Asian Winter Games and the highest-ever accomplishment for a Southeast Asian athlete in the event’s history. The post praised the team’s performance, saying, “You’ve made the entire country so proud!”
Curling, which is featured every four years at the Winter Olympics, received worldwide attention as athletes swept stones across the ice rink, showcasing their skills on a global stage.
In September 2023, the Philippines became a member of the World Curling Federation, alongside Pakistan and Puerto Rico, and began its efforts to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The men’s curling team is based in Switzerland and is led by Marc Pfister, who previously represented Switzerland in three world championships before switching nationalities. Marc and his brother, Enrico Pfister, are among the four curlers born in Switzerland but eligible to play for the Philippines through their Filipino mothers.
At the Harbin Games, teams from 34 countries, ranging from Saudi Arabia in the west to Singapore and the Philippines in the southeast, competed in 10 sports over the span of 11 days, with the event concluding on Friday.