japan win

For the first time in history of the World Women’s Curing Championship, Team Japan is guaranteed a medal.

Satsuki Fujisawa and her Japanese rink advanced to the gold medal game last night with a 7-5 extra end victory over Anna Sidorova’s Russian rink.

“Curling is still a minor sport in Japan. It is really only the time of the Olympics that it really gets a build up so being in the finals tomorrow hopefully will help gain more interest in the sport and build up a bigger fan interest in the sports so we’re really happy,” Fujisawa said via her translator following the game.

After Japan blanked the first three ends, the two teams traded singles in the fourth and fifth before trading deuces in six and seven.

The Japanese were then able to take control though. 

Following a single in eight for a 4-3 lead, Sidorova came up light on a draw in nine giving Japan a steal of one and a 5-3 lead coming home.

After Russia scored their pair to force and extra, Fujisawa picked out the Russian shot stone in the eleventh for the win.

“Going into the extra end and my shots coming up, suddenly I felt quite nervous so I was just happy to make the shot,” said Fujisawa.

Head Coach of the Japanese team, JD Lind shared how he would have felt if told his team would be in the gold medal game a week ago.

“Surprised, I knew this team had skill but you never expect the first time at a world championship that the would show such poise and consistency throughout the week. They definitely played great today and they definitely deserve to be in the final,” he said.

In the championship final, Team Japan will battle Binia Feltscher and her Switzerland rink, a team that has defeated Japan twice this week.

“Yes, they have beat us twice so far but it is the final so it is a different feeling. We will forget the two games that have past and focus on this game, having fun and playing well,” said Fujisawa when talking about Team Switzerland.

In tomorrow morning’s bronze medal game, Chelsea Carey and Team Canada will take on Anna Sidorova and Russia. So far this week Russia has defeated Canada in both of their meetings.

The gold medal game between Japan and Switzerland will get underway at 3:00pm Sunday afternoon.