The women's national curling team on Feb. 14 celebrates after beating China, 7-2, in the final of the Asian Winter Games at Harbin Pingfang District Curling Arena in Harbin, China.

By Yoon Sojung

Photos = Yonhap News

Team Korea has finished as the overall runner-up in the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, with 45 medals.

On the competition's final day, the national team on Feb. 14 added a gold in women's curling, silver in men's curling and bronze in men's ice hockey to finish with 16 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze. The country tied its Winter Asiad best for most golds set in 2017 in Sapporo, Japan, when Korea won 16 gold, 18 silver and 16 bronze.

In curling, the women won the gold and the men the silver that day. For the women at Harbin Pingfang District Curling Arena, Gim Eunji (skip), Kim Minji (third), Kim Suji (second), Seol Yeeun (lead) and Seol Yeji (fifth) defeated China, 7-2, in the final.

From the round-robin round of nine teams to the final, the team won all 10 of its games and regained Asia's top ranking in the sport for the first time since the 2007 Asian Winter Games in Chungchun, China.

Men's curling grabbed the silver, coming up short in the final against the Philippines, 5-3.

The same day, the men's ice hockey team came from behind in the bronze medal match to beat China, 5-2, at Harbin Ice Hockey Arena.

Korea thus exceeded the prediction of 11 gold medals by the Korea Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC).

"Team Korea showed a remarkable performance in winning gold medals for the first time in events such as the biathlon and short track," the KSOC said on Feb. 14. "Thanks to winning medals in such sports for the first time, this Asiad offered us the opportunity to confirm the new potential of the nation's sports."

The national team on Feb. 14 enters the closing ceremony of the Winter Asian Games in Harbin, China at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center.

arete@korea.kr