Han Yu (L) and Jiang Jiayi of China compete during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
HARBIN, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China cruised into the women's curling final to face South Korea after defeating Japan at the Harbin Asian Winter Games on Thursday.
In the women's curling semifinals, China took a 2-0 lead after four ends and sealed the victory against Japan 5-2, while South Korea eased past Kazakhstan 10-2 in six ends.
"We felt tense in the semifinal, but we managed to handle the pressure, and we won," said Han Yu of China, who emphasized communication and execution toward the final.
"China and South Korea may be at the same level technically. South Korea has more experience, and we need to focus on the details," Han noted.
On the men's side, China took a 4-1 lead early in the semifinal against the Philippines who scored four points in the fifth end before the two teams tied 6-6. In the last end, the Philippines edged China 7-6.
"We lost the match largely due to handling critical points, especially in the fifth end where we lost four points. We should have played more aggressively, but the opponents executed their game well, leaving us with limited opportunities," said China's Fei Xueqing, "It's a pity we stopped here as we really wanted to win a gold medal for China."
In the other men's semifinal, South Korea beat Hong Kong, China 13-2.
The men's curling final will see the Philippines facing South Korea on Friday, the last competition day of the Games. ■
Kim Suji (C) of South Korea competes during the curling women's semi-final match between Kazakhstan and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Tilsimay Alliyarova (C) of Kazakhstan competes during the curling women's semi-final match between Kazakhstan and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Yekaterina Kolykhalova of Kazakhstan competes during the curling women's semi-final match between Kazakhstan and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Jiang Jiayi (L, bottom) of China competes during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Han Yu (L) and Dong Ziqi of China clap hands during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Jiang Jiayi (L) and Dong Ziqi of China compete during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Athletes of both teams react after the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Athletes of Japan react during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Wang Rui of China competes during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Alan Frei (R) and Enrico Pfister of the Philippines compete during the curling men's semi-final match between the Philippines and China at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Enrico Pfister (R) and Christian Haller of the Philippines compete during the curling men's semi-final match between the Philippines and China at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Li Zhichao (L) and Fei Xueqing of China compete during the curling men's semi-final match between the Philippines and China at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Chang Jason (C) of China's Hong Kong competes during the curling men's semi-final match between China's Hong Kong and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Chung Cheuk Hei (L) of China's Hong Kong competes during the curling men's semi-final match between China's Hong Kong and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Li Zhichao of China competes during the curling men's semi-final match between the Philippines and China at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Wang Zhiyu (L) and Li Zhichao of China compete during the curling men's semi-final match between the Philippines and China at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Han Yu (L) and Dong Ziqi of China compete during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Wang Rui of China reacts during the curling women's semi-final match between China and Japan at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Lee Jaebeom of South Korea competes during the curling men's semi-final match between China's Hong Kong and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
