Chinese women curlers post split at worlds

LETHBRIDGE, Canada - China grabbed the first victory at the World Women's Curling Championship Sunday evening, beating the United States 8-4 to rebound from a 7-5 loss to host Canada earlier in the day.

China skip Wang Bingyu reacts after missing a shot during their game against Canada at the World Women's Curling Championships in Lethbridge, Alberta March 18, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Through two days at the 12-nation championship in southern Alberta, China have a record of one win and two losses.

After trailing the US 3-2 following four ends at the Enmax Center, China skipper Wang Bingyu found her form in collecting five points over the next four ends to take a commanding 7-3 lead.

After USA skipper Allison Pottinger scored a single in the ninth to make it 7-4, Wang, the 2009 world champion, added a single in the final end to cement the victory.

"It's a relief for us and I think we really need this win to give us more confidence," said the Harbin native. "It's a new team and for us to lose two games we really need that one."

Wang told Xinhua the Americans started to miss rocks and that allowed China to take control midway through the game. "It happened and we got the chance to seal the deal."

Against Canada, one of the pre-tournament favorites, China were never ahead in the game but they made Canadian skipper Heather Nedohin work for the victory.

After the Canadians earned two points each in the fourth and sixth ends to take a 5-2 lead, Wang added a single in the seventh and two points in the ninth end as Canada held on to a slim 6-5 lead.

With the hammer coming home, Edmonton resident Nedohin made no mistake and put it on target for a single point in the final end to secure the win.

"It was a tough game, but I felt the first five ends we got a lot of chance to control the game or to get the points," Wang said. "But I missed those shots and Heather (Nedohin) escaped and played better, better, better."

"This so-called pressure, if that's the case we like it," Nedohin said. "I mean, I think it rises the intensity out of all us and I think execution-wise we are doing well as a team. I like what I see at the front end."

In the evening session, Canada beat Switzerland 6-5 to remain the tournament's only undefeated team (3-0), while Russia shocked Germany, the 2010 champions, 6-4. Scotland beat Denmark 8-6.

The afternoon session saw Switzerland beat the USA 11-7, while defending champions Sweden hammered the Czech Republic 10-6. South Korea beat Italy 6-5.

On Monday, China had a chance to move up the standings as they meet minnows Italy (0-3) in the afternoon, followed by Russia (1-2) in the evening session.

"We hope we can keep going," Wang said. "Right now it doesn't matter which team we play, we have to play at our level by ourselves. Right now it is only my team's problem. If we make the rocks at the level we know we can play, we will win."