Marc Pfister (L), Christian Haller (C) and Alan Frei of the Philippines celebrate after winning the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
HARBIN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines claimed its first-ever gold medal in Asian Winter Games history on Friday, defeating South Korea 5-3 in men's curling final at Harbin 2025.
The Philippines squad, consisting of Marc Pfister, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, Alan Frei and alternate Benjo Delarmente, took a 3-1 lead before South Korea managed to tie the contest 3-3.
The Philippines regained the lead by scoring one point in the seventh end and sealed the gold medal by adding another point in the final end.
"I think it was a very close game and both played very well. The deciding moment is the first half of the game where we could manage to have the lead and go into the break with the lead, then we could manage to bring this to the end," Haller said.
In the bronze medal match, defending champion China beat Hong Kong, China 10-3 to claim the bronze.
China will compete for the women's curling gold against South Korea in the afternoon of the Games' last competition day. ■
Alan Frei of the Philippines celebrates after winning the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Pyo Jeongmin (R) of South Korea reacts during the awarding ceremony after the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Curlers of team the Philippines celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Members of team China react during the awarding ceremony for the men's curling at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Gold medalists team the Philippines (C), silver medalists team South Korea (L) and bronze medalists team China pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's curling at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Team China and China's Hong Kong pose for photos after the Curling men's bronze medal match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Team China and China's Hong Kong pose for photos after the Curling men's bronze medal match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Members of team the Philippines celebrate after winning the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Chung Cheuk Hei(R), Yao Ho Tin Martin (C) of China's Hong Kong compete during the Curling men's bronze medal match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Christian Haller (R) of the Philippines reacts during the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Alan Frei of the Philippines competes during the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Lee Jaebeom of South Korea competes during the curling men's gold medal match between the Philippines and South Korea at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Xu Xiaoming (C) of China competes during the Curling men's bronze medal match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Wang Zhiyu of China competes during the Curling men's bronze medal match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Wang Zhiyu (front L) and Li Zhichao (front R) of China compete during the Curling men's bronze medal match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Chung Cheuk Hei (L) of China's Hong Kong competes during the Curling men's bronze medal match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
