Games closed in Harbin on Friday with host China dominating the medals table a year out from the Olympics and the Philippines among the tropical countries making history. Tightly rehearsed dancers and a digital symphony orchestra kicked off the closing ceremony before athletes entered the 10,

China topped the final medal table at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin with a record haul on Friday but its delegation's head stressed the need for improvement if the country is to be competitive at the highest level.

For a long time, any mention of curling would have brought up the country’s salon, not sporting, culture. Not anymore. After all, Marc Pfister didn’t come all the way from Bern, Switzerland, to settle for just any medal at the 9th Asian Winter Games.

Games end in glory for ‘Curling Pilipinas’ just two years after their federation was founded, but Hong Kong’s curlers just miss medal.