
BRITAIN bagged its sole gold at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games yesterday when the side beat Japan for the women’s curling title. On the closing day of the Games, Britain, Sochi 2014 bronze medalist, beat Pyeongchang bronze medalist Japan 10-3 for the delegation’s second medal at the Games, following the runner-up finish in men’s curling. The British team, skippered by Eve Muirhead, scored two points with the hammer in the first end, and swallowed two points back-to-back in the following ends, taking the lead 4-1 in the first half. Japan, spearheaded by Satsuki Fujisawa, managed to break through Britain’s sound defense and score one point in the sixth end, but two amazing shots by Muirhead in the following end won Britain four points, overriding Japan 8-2. Japan added one point on the scoreboard in the eighth end, but Britain scored two points in the ninth, forcing Japan to surrender before the break of the last end. Britain lost to Japan in the bronze medal game at Pyeongchang 2018. “Coming in fourth in Pyeong- chang 2018 was incredibly tough. It took me a long time to get over that and even now I still think of that shot,” said Muirhead. (Xinhua) |