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'Absolutely wild': Philippine curlers win historic Asian Games gold / Photo: © AFP
'Absolutely wild': Philippine curlers win historic Asian Games gold
Philippines on Friday bagged a historic and unlikely gold medal by stunning South Korea 5-3 in men's curling at the Asian Winter Games in China's Harbin.
The team and about two dozen supporters erupted in cheers after winning the tropical country's first medal in the 39-year history of the Games.
"We wanted to go for a medal, but the gold medal, this is overwhelming," said Alan Frei, one of the quartet.
"This is so weird, isn't it?"
The Philippine heroes upset China 7-6 in the semi-finals a day earlier, guaranteeing them a spot atop the podium one year before the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The South Koreans were after their third Winter Asiad gold in men's curling -- winning previous editions in 2003 and 2007 -- along with exemption from mandatory military service awarded to Asian Games champions from their country.
But just two years after the launch of the Philippines' curling federation, the men's team -- who were all born in Switzerland to Filipino mothers -- won a place in the folklore of the archipelago.
They have already secured a place at 2026 Olympic pre-qualifiers later this year.
Their story is a sort of encore of the Jamaican bobsleigh team who were immortalised in the movie "Cool Runnings" after taking part in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
"It's just absolutely wild," said Frei, who only started curling in 2023.
But he said the win doesn't guarantee they will make it to the ultimate stage, the Winter Olympics.
"We were also lucky, and maybe we wanted it a bit more," he said.
"It's day one again. Back to the beginning. Back to the gym."
Y.Wi--SG
