South Korea’s women’s curling team celebrates after executing a called shot against China in a round-robin game at the Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 16. (Yonhap)
South Korea’s women’s curling team beat China 10-9 for its second straight win, improving its chances of reaching the semifinals at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The South Korean team — skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Kim Su-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and alternate Seol Ye-ji — defeated China in its sixth round-robin game at the Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina, Italy, on Feb. 17 (Korea time).
After edging rival Japan 7-5 two days earlier, South Korea moved to 4-2 and into a three-way tie for second with Switzerland and the United States. The women’s event features 10 teams playing a full round robin, with the top four advancing to the medal round.
Known as “Team 5G,” the squad is chasing an Olympic medal for the first time since “Team Kim” won silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Team 5G also went 10-0 to win gold at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games.
South Korea controlled the early stages. After a scoreless first two ends, it scored three in the third. China answered with two in the fourth, but South Korea capitalized on a Chinese mistake in the fifth, when Kim Eun-ji’s final stone helped produce four points for a 7-2 lead.
The match swung late. South Korea gave up three in the sixth and allowed a steal in the seventh to see its lead cut to 7-6. It managed only one point in the eighth, then surrendered three in the ninth to fall behind 9-8.
In the 10th, Kim Eun-ji delivered a precise final shot to set up two scoring stones in the house, sealing a 10-9 comeback win. South Korea next plays Switzerland, also tied for second, at 10:05 p.m. on Feb. 17 (Korea time) in its seventh round-robin game.
The South Korean team — skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Kim Su-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and alternate Seol Ye-ji — defeated China in its sixth round-robin game at the Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina, Italy, on Feb. 17 (Korea time).
After edging rival Japan 7-5 two days earlier, South Korea moved to 4-2 and into a three-way tie for second with Switzerland and the United States. The women’s event features 10 teams playing a full round robin, with the top four advancing to the medal round.
Known as “Team 5G,” the squad is chasing an Olympic medal for the first time since “Team Kim” won silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Team 5G also went 10-0 to win gold at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games.
South Korea controlled the early stages. After a scoreless first two ends, it scored three in the third. China answered with two in the fourth, but South Korea capitalized on a Chinese mistake in the fifth, when Kim Eun-ji’s final stone helped produce four points for a 7-2 lead.
The match swung late. South Korea gave up three in the sixth and allowed a steal in the seventh to see its lead cut to 7-6. It managed only one point in the eighth, then surrendered three in the ninth to fall behind 9-8.
In the 10th, Kim Eun-ji delivered a precise final shot to set up two scoring stones in the house, sealing a 10-9 comeback win. South Korea next plays Switzerland, also tied for second, at 10:05 p.m. on Feb. 17 (Korea time) in its seventh round-robin game.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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