Olympics-Curling-Britain edge Canada, Italy make winning start in mixed doubles

By Hritika Sharma

BEIJING (Reuters) – Reigning world champions Britain earned a notable victory over fellow favourites Canada in a troublesome contest on the Nationwide Aquatics Centre on Thursday to proceed their profitable begin to the curling blended doubles competitors.

Having overwhelmed Sweden within the opener on Wednesday, Britons Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds confronted one other stern take a look at towards the Canadians however prevailed 6-4 after their opponents had been unable to make closing stone benefit rely within the final finish.

“I feel it was a step up from yesterday,” Dodds stated. “If anybody stated at the beginning of the competitors we’re going to be 2-0 up taking part in Sweden and Canada — two nice oppositions — I feel anybody on this subject would say they’d take that.”

Canada’s John Morris, who gained the inaugural blended doubles gold in Pyeongchang, and Rachel Homan may have the chance to get their title defence again on observe once they tackle Norway of their second preliminary match in a while Thursday.

Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner started their round-robin marketing campaign with a win as they pulled off a hard-fought 8-4 victory towards the USA and can face Switzerland within the second session.

America, who beat Australia of their opening match, had the possibility to stage the competition 6-6 within the eighth finish however Vicky Persinger’s toss went broad. They are going to look to rectify the outcome towards Norway later.

“We performed lots higher within the second half of that recreation, which I feel is mentally reassuring for Chris and I, so we’re simply going to deliver that half to the following recreation… it’s good that it’s back-to-back for us,” Persinger stated.

Australia should wait to register their first victory on Olympic curling ice after a second straight slender defeat as they went down 6-5 towards hosts China.

Tahli Gill’s beautiful three-point shot levelled the scores to provide Australia a combating likelihood and she or he had the chance to throw for victory however missed the shot by the narrowest of margins.

Sweden bounced again from their opening loss to Britain, scoring two factors in each the seventh and eighth ends in a 7-4 comeback win over Czech Republic earlier than they tackle China within the night session.

(Reporting by Hritika Sharma; modifying by Richard Pullin)