HARBIN, CHINA—Speed skater Peter Groseclose and curling athlete Kathleen Dubberstein have been named as Team Philippines’ flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the 2025 Asian Winter Games on Friday at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center.
Groseclose will represent the country in short track speed skating, while Dubberstein is a key player in the women’s curling team. She is also competing in the mixed doubles curling event alongside Filipino-Swiss athlete Marc Pfister, where the duo recently won three straight matches against South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, and Qatar before suffering a close defeat against China.
“What more could we ask for an inspiring start in the Philippines’ debut in curling in these games,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino, expressing optimism about the team’s strong showing.
Groseclose, an experienced competitor who previously represented the country in the Winter Youth Olympic Games, said he is ready and excited to compete.
“I’m ready and excited. Practices have been going well, and I think I’ll be able to give a performance I can be proud of,” said Groseclose.
Before the opening ceremony, Groseclose will kick off his campaign in the morning qualifying heats of the 1,500-meter, 100-meter, and 500-meter short track speed skating events at the Heilongjiang Ice Events Training Center Multifunctional Hall.
PH Curling Team Stays Unbeaten
The Philippine mixed doubles curling team has emerged as one of the country’s strongest contenders in the 9th Asian Winter Games, extending their unbeaten run with three consecutive victories in the preliminary round at the Pingfang Curling Arena.
Filipino-American Kathleen Dubberstein and Filipino-Swiss Marc Pfister showcased their skills in a 12-2 upset win over world No. 13 South Korea, followed by an 11-3 victory over Qatar. The unranked duo also dominated Kyrgyzstan, securing a spot in the quarterfinal round.
“We just kept the same attitude heading into the next games. Our goal is to win all our round-robin games and possibly sweep it,” said Dubberstein, a 30-year-old electrical engineering graduate from Wisconsin, USA.
She remains confident in Team Philippines’ chances of reaching the podium, with the top three teams from each bracket moving forward in the competition.
“Qatar is also a developing nation in curling just like us. Our game with them was a good experience,” she added.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officials Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Secretary-General Wharton Chan praised the Filipino curling duo and expressed optimism for a potential medal finish.
“Very impressive, and their confidence is growing. To win a medal, they have to stay that way,” Tolentino said.
The Philippines has sent a 20-athlete delegation to the Asian Winter Games, competing alongside 1,275 athletes from 33 other nations across 11 winter sports.
Aside from Groseclose and Dubberstein, the Philippine team features top figure skaters Paolo Borromeo, Sofia Frank, and Cathryn Limketkai, along with the pairs team of Isabella Gamez and Aleksandr Korovin.
In alpine skiing, Francis Ceccarelli and Tallulah Proulx will represent the country, while Laetaz Amihan Rabe competes in freestyle skiing, and Adrian Tongko takes on the snowboarding events.
The men’s curling team includes Benjo Delarmente, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, and Marc Pfister, while the women’s curling team consists of Anne Bonache, Kathleen Dubberstein, Leilani Dubberstein, Sheila Mariano, and Jessica Pfister.
