South Korea breezed past its Asian Winter Games gold medal target in northeast China this month with victories from ice and snow, an encouraging development for its up-and-coming athletes one year ahead of the Winter Olympics in Italy.

With a comeback victory in the biathlon women's 4x6km relay on Thursday, China secured its 19th gold medal in snow events at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, marking the highest number ever for the Chinese delegation at a single Winter Asiad.

Korea defeated the home team China for the women's curling title at the Asian Winter Games on Friday, grabbing its 16th and final gold medal of the competition.

South Korea added three gold medals at the Asian Winter Games on Thursday to lock down second place in the medal race with one day remaining. With gold medals from the men's and women's singles in figure skating,