WORK HARD in silence and let your success make a noise. The men’s curling team has been acknowledged for their successful performance in the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, where they won gold.
It’s safe to assume that the national squad has gained respect, since the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) was reported to request more financing for the aforementioned sports event to aid them in future events.
The men’s curling team won the first gold medal at the Asian Winter Games on Friday, defeating South Korea in the final. Furthermore, it was the first gold medal for a Southeast Asian nation.
Budget for All
Without a doubt, POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has shown strong support for all of the athletes representing the country. With the curling team’s success, he is now submitting a funding request.
“They were just recognized by the POC recently. If we meet the President, we will make a [funding] request to support their journey to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games,” said Tolentino.
“They are paying their own expenses every time, and it’s not a joke. So we really need that financial support to sustain and we’re preparing for all the competitions, even the developmental stage,” he went on to say.
Meanwhile, Tolentino argued that support should not be limited to those who have won medals. “They are training very hard to represent our country in these overseas competitions,” the president of POC said.
He also intends to propose additional support for other winter sports, such as alpine skiers, figure skaters, snowboarders, freestyle skiers, and short track speed skaters, to help them prepare for international events.
Well-Deserved Incentives
Aside from the expected increase in funding, the curling team is also eligible for cash incentives from the government or the Republic Act. 10699, totaling P2 million for their success.
“We would like to thank everyone here for helping and supporting us in this journey. It’s a great testament to show that we as a tropical country can play the sport and make success. We made everybody proud,” said Christian Haller.
The Filipinos went 4-1 in the elimination phase, with their only loss coming against South Korea, 1-6. They went on to defeat host nation China 7-6 in the semis before avenging themselves against South Korea 5-3 in the gold medal match.
The squad now hopes to make it all the way to the Winter Olympics in February 2026, which will be hosted by Italy. However, they have a difficult journey to the competition.
They have two options for qualifying for the Winter Games: a quota in the pre-Olympic qualifying event and Olympic qualification. However, the Philippines presently ranks 51st in the international rankings.
“There are only two ways to qualify, and that’s to be top three in the pre-Olympic and top two in the Olympic qualification. But I believe our players will fight for it just like they did in Harbin,” sadi Curling Pilipinas President Benjo Delarmente.
Nonetheless, the victory marks a significant stride forward for the country. It may appear unattainable in their current situation, but nothing is impossible with a holistic approach that includes the government’s assistance and the hard work of these players.
