PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann has vowed to strengthen support for winter sports after the men’s curling team clinched a historic gold medal at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.
"The Philippine Sports Commission remains committed to expanding the necessary support for winter sports and providing appropriate programs that will be delivered within the grassroots level to sustain the achievement we attained and the growing dynamics of our local sports scene, making us equipped for greater challenges ahead," Bachmann said in a statement issued on Monday, February 17, 2025.
He lauded the recent achievement by the Philippine men’s curling team, which marks the country’s first-ever medal in winter multi-sport events and the best finish by any Southeast Asian nation in the tournament.
"We are dedicated to fully coordinating with the officials of Curling Winter Sports Association of the Philippines Inc., the accredited and recognized national sports association by the Philippine Olympic Committee for curling, to exert assistance in streamlining the process to qualify for membership in the national training pool," the PSC chief said. "This ensures entitlement from the monthly allowance, other subsidies, and other specialized training and development programs geared towards representing the country in any international competitions."
Bachmann noted that the team’s historic victory has generated widespread interest among Filipinos, encouraging greater awareness and participation in winter sports.
Alan Frei, Marc Pfister, Enrico Pfister, and Christian Haller made history, defeating South Korea 5-3 to claim the country’s first Asian Winter Games men’s curling medal.
The win avenged their earlier 1-6 loss to the same team. Before the finals, the Filipino-Swiss curlers edged out host China 7-6 in a thrilling semifinal. MLSA