CurlingZone: Korea hang on for crucial fourth win

After leading early, Korea's Team Gim (Photo: World Curling) needed a superb tenth end to seal the victory.

By: Cameron Sallaj

It was a tale of two halves during Monday evening's Draw 8 in Cortina as the Republic of Korea took on the People's Republic of China. Sitting 3-2, Korea's Team Gim was looking for a fourth win while China's Team Wang looked to even their record at 3-3.

After two blanks to open the game, Korea took advantage of a missed takeout by Wang on her last to draw for three to open the scoring. They then gave up two in the fourth before exploding with four in the fifth in an end that could've been as many as six. At the break, Korea led 7-2.

Needing to turn things around quickly, China capitalized on a questionable strategic decision by Gim in the sixth to hit for three and cut the deficit down to two. Then in seven, another clinical series of shots by Team Wang forced the Koreans to concede a single with the score now sitting at 7-6.

With momentum fully on China's side, Gim momentarily stopped the bleeding with a hit for one in the eighth to regain a two-point lead. This was immediately followed, however, by a hit for three in the ninth by the Chinese team, allowing them to take their first lead of the game 9-8 heading to ten.

Trying not to let the game slip away, Korean third Kim Min-ji made two perfect shots, one runback and one hit-and-roll to keep her teams hopes alive. This forced China into a must-make hit-and-roll on their last which rolled into the open, allowing Gim an open takeout to score two and hang on to the 10-9 win.

Currently ranked number three in the world, Team Gim, with Gim Eun-ji, Kim Min-ji, Kim Su-ji, Seol Ye-eun and Seol Ye-ji now sit tied for second in the group standings with a 4-2 record. It will be a tough finish for the Korean champions, however, as they close out the round robin against Switzerland, Sweden and Canada, the top three ranked teams in the event.

For China's Team Wang, the lost drops them to a 2-4 record and a must-win situation. They will finish their round robin against Denmark and Japan as well as Sweden, a team who currently holds an undefeated record.

In other Draw 8 scores, Canada defeated Japan 9-6 to move their win/loss record back to 0.500 at 3-3. Homan faced three on her final draw in ten but was right on the money to seal the victory.

Switzerland also earned their fourth win of the event with a four score in the ninth to beat Great Britain 10-6. They now sit tied with both Korea and the USA at 4-2 while GB falls to 2-4.

Finally, Italy's Stefania Constantini and her hometown team earned their first win of the Games with a dominant 7-2 win against the USA's Tabitha Peterson.

Olympic Women's Standings - Draw 8

Sweden (Hasselborg): 6-0
United States of America (Peterson): 4-2
Switzerland (Tirinzoni): 4-2
Republic of Korea (Gim): 4-2
Canada (Homan): 3-3
Denmark (Dupont): 3-3
People's Republic of China (Wang): 2-4
Great Britain (Jackson): 2-4
Japan (Yoshimura): 1-5
Italy (Constantini): 1-5

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