CHAMPION: Koana Wins 2018 Japan Curling Championship

Fourth
Junko
Nishimuro

SKIP
Tori
Koana

Second
Yuna
Kotani

Lead
Mao
Ishigaki

Tori Koana (Yamanashi, JPN) won 5-3 over Ayumi Ogasawara (Sapporo, JPN) in the Final of the Japan Curling Championship, held January 29 - February 4, 2018 in Hokkaido, Japan. To advance to the championship game, Koana won 9-5 over Chiaki Matsumura (Karuizawa, JPN) in the semifinals of the 2018 Japan Curling Championship in Hokkaido, Japan;

Koana finished 6-2 in the 9-team qualifying round. . In their opening game, Koana lost 6-3 to Matsumura, then responded with a 7-4 win over Momoka Iwase (Hokkaido, JPN). Koana won 7-1 against Miori Nakamura (Aomori, JPN), then won 7-4 against Natsuko Ishiyama (Hokkaio, JPN). Koana went on to lose 7-6 against Ogasawara. Koana responded with a 15-1 win over Miwako Tatsudan (Hiroshima, JPN). Koana won 9-4 against Asuka Kanai (Karuizawa, JPN), then won 7-5 against Akemi Fujii (Nayoro, JPN) in their final qualifying round match.

For winning the Japan Curling Championship Championship title, Koana earned 16.958 world rankings points, moving up 17 spots the World Ranking Standings into 82nd place overall with 65.868 total points. Koana ranks 93rd overall on the Year-to-Date rankings with 29.384 points earned so far this season.