🥌 This week in Kelowna, Canada, mixed doubles curling duo Yu Sen and Ye Zixuan from the Chinese mainland saw their Olympic dream slip away on December 18. Facing Republic of Korea duo Jeong Yeong-seok and Kim Seon-yeong in a winner-takes-all playoff, they fell 7-3, missing out on a ticket to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The match started off tight, but the pair trailed 4-2 after three ends. A crucial missed draw with their final stone and a steal by the Republic of Korea pushed the score to 5-2 through four ends.
In the fifth end, Yu and Ye turned to a power play offense, scoring a single point. Yet Jeong and Kim showed solid defense, and by the seventh end another strategic steal widened the gap to 7-3.
In the eighth end, the Republic of Korea duo unleashed a brilliant double takeout 💥, leaving Yu and Ye with no way back. The Chinese mainland pair conceded the match, marking a tough end to their Milano journey 💔.
Elsewhere in the Kelowna playoffs, the Czech Republic edged Australia 6-5 to seal the first Olympic berth. In the final showdown, the Republic of Korea claimed the last spot with a 10-5 win over the Australian duo.
Reference(s):
Chinese mixed doubles curlers fail to qualify for Milano Cortina 2026
cgtn.com
