Asa Miller poised for better campaign at Beijing Winter Olympics
FILE – The Philippines’ Asa Miller competes in the Men’s Giant Slalom at the Jeongseon Alpine Center during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang on February 18, 2018. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-American alpine skier Asa Miller was only a teenager when he made his first foray in the Winter Games in 2018 where he finished 70th out of 110 competitors.
Armed with experience, Miller is expected to do much better as the Philippines’ lone representative in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics which begins next week.
“I wish him all the luck that he will improve on his performance from the last Winter Olympics,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
“But his qualification for Beijing is already an absolute honor for a tropical country like ours. We are very fortunate to have a qualified athlete,” Tolentino added.
The 21-year-old Miller, who was born and raised in Portland, Oregon in the United States, arrives in Beijing on Sunday together with his father Kelly and Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation president Jim Palomar Apelar.
Miller qualified for two events and will begin his campaign in giant slalom on February 13 before participating in slalom three days later at Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre.
“The whole Philippines is excited because we’re one of only a few countries in the Southeast Asian region that will compete in the Winter Olympics,” said Tolentino.
