Harbin: Speed skater Peter Groseclose and curling athlete Kathleen Dubberstein were named flag-bearers for Team Philippines in the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center in China.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Filipino-American Dubberstein, along with her teammate Filipino-Swiss Marc Pfister, achieved notable success earlier in the week by securing three consecutive victories against seeded teams from South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, and Qatar in the round-robin stage of curling. Despite a setback against China's team, ranked 15th in the world, with a 6-9 loss, Dubberstein and Pfister have secured a spot in the quarterfinals, keeping their medal aspirations alive.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino expressed his enthusiasm for the team's performance, stating, "What more could we ask for an inspiring start in the Philippines' debut in curling in these games." Tolentino is accompanied in Harbin by his secretary-general Wharton Chan and chef de mission Ricky Lim.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles-based Peter Groseclose is set to compete in the men's speed skating events. Groseclose will participate in the heats of the 500 and 1,000 meters and the quarterfinals of the 1,500 meters at the Heilongjiang Ice Events Training Center. The 17-year-old expressed his readiness and excitement, noting that his practices have been fruitful, and he is aiming for a commendable performance. Groseclose previously finished fifth overall in the 500m event at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea, despite sustaining an injury.
The curling competition continues with the semifinal winners competing for the gold medal on Saturday, while the losing teams will vie for the bronze. Tolentino expressed optimism about the potential for a medal, stating, "Our curling team is doing good, and their confidence is growing. There's a chance that we could win a medal."
The Philippine contingent also includes figure skaters Paolo Borromeo, Cathryn Limketkai, Sofia Frank, and the pair Isabella Gamez and Alexander Korovin; slalom alpine skiers Francis Ceccarelli and Tallulah Proulx; snowboarder Laetaz Amihan Rabe; and curling athletes Benjo Delarmente, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, Anne Bonache, Leilani Dubberstein, Sheila Mariano, and Jessica Pfister.
