China Secures First Medal at Asian Winter Games in Curling Mixed Doubles
China celebrated its first medal at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, as Han Yu and Wang Zhiyu triumphed over the Philippines’ Marc Pfister and Kathleen Dubberstein with a close 6-5 victory in the curling mixed doubles bronze medal match on Saturday.
Despite an impressive undefeated streak in the round-robin stage, winning all five games, the Chinese duo faced a setback when they lost 8-4 to their South Korean opponents in the semifinals. The Philippines team similarly fell to Japan 10-4 in their semifinal match.
A Thrilling Comeback
The bronze medal match was a gripping encounter. Pfister and Dubberstein took an early lead, scoring one point in the first end and three in the second, putting them ahead 4-0. Unfazed, Han and Wang rallied by scoring one point in the third end and adding two more in the fourth, narrowing the deficit to 4-3 by halftime.
The momentum shifted as the Chinese pair tied the game 4-4 in the fifth end and surged ahead to 6-4 after the sixth and seventh ends. Though the Philippines team scored one point in the final end, Han and Wang held on to secure the victory and the bronze medal.
Gold for Japan
In the gold medal match, Japan’s Tori Koana and Go Aoki edged out South Korea’s Kim Kyeong-ae and Seong Ji-hoon with a 7-6 win, claiming the top spot on the podium.
This achievement marks a significant moment for China’s curling team at the Asian Winter Games, showcasing their resilience and determination. Fans across the nation are celebrating the team’s success, anticipating even greater accomplishments in the future.
