The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is set to lead the country’s largest-ever contingent to the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China. With 20 athletes competing across various disciplines, the Philippines aims to gain crucial international exposure as it builds toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

“I believe our winter sport athletes can deliver, not in terms of medals, but in terms of the exposure and experience that’s needed,” Tolentino said before departing for Harbin.

The Games officially begin with the opening ceremony on Friday at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center and will run until February 14.

Philippine Athletes Set to Compete

The Team Philippines roster includes a mix of seasoned and rising winter sports athletes:

• Alpine Skiing: Francis Ceccarelli, Tallulah Proulx (slalom)
• Snowboarding: Laetaz Amihan Rabe (free ski slopestyle, big air, halfpipe)
• Short Track Speed Skating: Peter Groseclose
• Figure Skating: Isabella Gamez & Alexander Korovin (pairs), Paolo Borromeo, Cathryn Limketkai, Sofia Frank
• Curling:
  • Men’s Team: Benjo Delarmente, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, Marc Pfister
  • Women’s Team: Anne Bonache, Kathleen Dubberstein, Leilani Dubberstein, Sheila Mariano, Jessica Pfister

The delegation was initially set at 21 athletes, but snowboarder Adrian Lee Tongko suffered a knee injury while training in Japan and will no longer compete.

Harbin: A Global Winter Sports Stage

The 9th Asian Winter Games will feature 1,275 athletes from 34 countries competing in 64 events across 11 sports, including alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, short track speed skating, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, and speed skating.

“This team will gain valuable experience that will help them qualify for next year’s Winter Olympics,” Tolentino emphasized. “We’ve already won gold medals in the Summer Olympics, and now our goal is to reach the Winter Olympic podium.”

Chef de Mission and Team Leadership

Veteran sports official Ricky Lim has been named chef de mission, overseeing the delegation’s preparations and competitions. Meanwhile, Jim Apelar, president of the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation (PSSF), expressed disappointment over Tongko’s injury, confirming that coach Kevin Bernier advised him against competing due to persistent knee swelling.

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics

With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics just a year away, the Harbin Asian Winter Games serve as a stepping stone for Filipino athletes to qualify and compete on the biggest winter sports stage. The Philippines has yet to win a Winter Olympic medal, but the country’s increasing presence in international competitions is a sign of progress.