China thumps Switzerland to win bronze

In their first Olympic games, China’s women’s curling team has impressed by picking up a bronze medal as they defeated Switzerland 12-6 at the Vancouver Olympic Centre on Friday.

Two-time Olympic silver medalist Mirjam Ott conceded defeat after shooting a blank in the eighth end compared to China’s four.

China started the game strong scoring five in the first three ends.

But, after the Swiss scored one in the second end, they exploded for three in the fourth, cutting the deficit.

Bingyu Wang’s team was held to one point in the fifth before the Swiss made their comeback in the sixth, largely because of a double takeout by Swiss second Carmen Kueng

Ott had a chance to pick up three in the sixth but her last rock curled too much to the right, making the Swiss settle for the game tying deuce heading into the seventh.

That’s when Wang’s rink blew the game wide open scoring six in the final two ends to earn China its first medal in the women’s division.

Coach Dan Rafael was quoted saying his Chinese team lacked execution and desire during the round robin but, after winning bronze, it’s fair to say his concerns can be put to bed.

After winning the world championships last year, China seems poised to take the curling world by storm in the four years before 2014.

Meanwhile for Ott’s Swiss team, they can look at their inability to execute on the crucial rocks as the reason this game got away from them.

The women’s gold medal game between Canada’s Cheryl Bernard and Annette Norberg of Sweden will be played this evening at 6:00 EST.

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By: Amit Mann
Posted: Feb 26 2010 9:52 pm
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Filed under: Winter Games
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