KOREAN NET

The mixed doubles curling team of Kim Kyungae and Seong Jihoon on Feb. 5 won its second consecutive match after losing the opener at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China. Shown is the duo on Feb. 4 in a Group B round-robin match against the Philippines at Harbin Pingfang District Curling Arena. (Yonhap News)

By Jeon Misun

The mixed doubles curling team of Kim Kyungae and Seong Jihoon has won two straight after losing the opener at the Winter Asian Games in Harbin, China.

The pair on Feb. 5 defeated Kazakhstan's Amina Seichanova and Azizbek Nadirbayev, 12-0, in the team's third Group B match at Harbin Pingfang District Curling Arena.

Kim and Seong on the day before lost their opener to the Philippines, 12-6, but turned things around by beating Qatar and Kazakhstan.

Mixed doubles is making its debut this year in the competition. Twelve teams are divided into two groups and play a round-robin format in the preliminary rounds. The winner of each group advances to the semifinals, while second and third place face their counterparts from the other group in the quarterfinals.

In addition, a joint rapid response team from Korea will operate from Feb. 6-15 in Harbin comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Fire Agency.

This is to help prevent and respond to contingencies involving Korean nationals in Harbin, which is expected to see a surge of Korean visitors thanks to visa-free entry for short-term visits to China, as well as events like the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, which ends this month, and the Winter Asiad.

Korean nationals in Harbin who need such assistance can call the team's hotline (+86 159-0403-9755) or the consular call center (+82 02-3210-0404).

msjeon22@korea.kr