Manila: The Philippine windsurfing team, set to compete in the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, made a courtesy visit to Consul General Randy Arquiza at the Philippine Embassy in Rome. The meeting took place on Tuesday, where Arquiza expressed his gratitude to the athletes for representing the country as they commence their training in Bracciano, Italy, in anticipation of the Asian Games scheduled from September 19 to October 24 in Nagoya, Japan.

According to Philippines News Agency, Arquiza encouraged the team to strive for gold and congratulated them for their participation in international competitions. Highlighting their achievements, Arquiza noted the impressive performances in Poland, where Khian Cuerdo finished 10th overall, and Jade Justiniane secured 24th place. He also lauded the team for their medal wins in last year's Southeast Games and this year's Asian Beach Games.

The team expressed hope that their recent international experiences, including competitions in Spain and Poland, will adequately prepare them for the upcoming Asian Games and the Youth Olympic Games scheduled from October 31 to November 13. Young windsurfer Khian Cuerdo shared insights from his participation in the Techno 293 and Techno 293 Plus competition in Poland, highlighting the challenging cold and windy conditions that provided valuable lessons.

Jade Justiniane, a 15-year-old windsurfer, emphasized that her qualification for the Asian Games signifies the progress of the country's sailing and windsurfing programs. She participated in the T293 and T293 Plus European Championships to prepare for the Youth Olympic Games, acknowledging the significant experience gained from the competition.

Alongside Cuerdo and Justiniane, other team members present during the courtesy visit included SEA Games gold medalist and 2026 Asian Beach Games silver medalist Dhenver Castillo, SEA Games bronze medalist Harold Madrigal, Kelsy Moreno, and Rome-based SEA Games bronze winner Arianne Paz. Kelsy Moreno shared her positive experience at the World Youth iQFOil Championship in Spain, while Dhenver Castillo discussed the adjustments he made to adapt to the European weather and wave conditions, enhancing his preparation for the Asian Games in Japan.