Czech Curling Team Faces Losses & Olympic Qualifiers | News & Updates
- CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds of Great Britain continued their impressive start to the Olympic curling mixed doubles competition in Cortina d’Ampezzo, securing an...
- The match against the Czech team, Julia Zelingrova and Vit Chabicovsky, proved to be a tightly contested affair.
- “We can’t complain, three in a row in your first three games at the Olympics – we’re always going to take that, no matter how you do it,”...
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds of Great Britain continued their impressive start to the Olympic curling mixed doubles competition in Cortina d’Ampezzo, securing an 8-7 victory over Czechia on Thursday. The win marks their third consecutive victory to begin the tournament, following earlier successes against Norway and Estonia.
The match against the Czech team, Julia Zelingrova and Vit Chabicovsky, proved to be a tightly contested affair. After five ends, the score was tied at 5-5. Britain then capitalized, taking the next two ends to establish an 8-5 lead heading into the final end. Despite a late surge from the Czechs, who scored two points in the eighth end, Dodds and Mouat held on for the narrow win.
“We can’t complain, three in a row in your first three games at the Olympics – we’re always going to take that, no matter how you do it,” Dodds said after the match. “It’s a great start.”
The final end presented a significant challenge. Dodds described the crucial moment: “That last end was a bit tricky but when I saw him draw, it looked heavy and it kind of bounced off and left me that pocket to basically draw into — I was very happy to see that, let’s say that.” She emphasized the pressure and satisfaction inherent in such pivotal shots, stating, “This is why you play curling, for these moments, that sort of pressurised shot and when you make it, it’s so satisfying.”
The British duo face a busy Friday schedule, with matches against Sweden in the morning and Korea in the afternoon. These games will be crucial as they navigate the round-robin stage of the competition.
The Czech team, however, continues to struggle in their Olympic debut. They have now lost all three of their opening matches. Earlier in the week, they suffered defeats in their initial matches, setting the stage for a challenging road ahead. According to reports from , Czechia secured one of the final Olympic spots at the Olympic Qualifying Event, defeating Australia 6-5 in Kelowna, B.C. Julia Zelingrova’s draw secured the victory.
The qualification process was hard-fought. Australia, seeking to replicate their success from , experienced heartbreak with back-to-back playoff losses. The Australians had topped their group with a 6-1 record, defeating an undefeated China team, while Czechia also finished atop their group at 6-1, besting Korea.
Korea, featuring Kim Seon-yeong, who previously won Olympic silver at PyeongChang , also qualified for the Olympics. Kim Seon-yeong is the first Korean curling athlete to compete in three consecutive Winter Games.
The Olympic Qualification Event saw several teams vying for the limited number of spots available for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The competition was fierce, with teams like Australia and China ultimately falling short of their qualification goals. Australia lost to Korea 10-5 in the final playoff match after a tight first half.
The Czech Republic faced challenges even before arriving in Italy, with three positive coronavirus cases reported within the team following entry testing in Finland on , leading to their withdrawal from the World Qualification Event.
Despite the early setbacks, the Czech team is determined to gain experience and compete at the highest level. The team’s performance against Great Britain demonstrated their ability to challenge top contenders, even in defeat. The match was tied at 5-5 after five ends, indicating their potential to compete with the best in the world.
The mixed doubles curling event at the Winter Olympics is known for its fast-paced action and intense competition. The British duo’s success so far highlights their ability to thrive under pressure and capitalize on opportunities. Their upcoming matches against Sweden and Korea will provide further tests of their championship credentials.
The competition in Cortina is fierce, with teams from around the globe vying for Olympic glory. The early stages of the tournament have already produced several exciting matches and unexpected results, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.