Chinese women curlers fall short at world championship

South Korea skip Kim Ji-Sun (L) and China skip Wang Bingyu stand waiting for their game to start during at the World Women's Curling Championships in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, March 20, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

LETHBRIDGE, Canada - The 2012 World Women's Curling Championship is a tournament China's national team will likely quickly forget.

Three years after winning it all in 2009, Wang Bingyu and her Harbin rink crashed and burned Wednesday at the world championship in southern Alberta, losing both of their games to sit 2-7, tied for last with Italy and the Czech Republic in the 12-nation tournament.

After losing 7-5 to South Korea the night before, China got off to a disastrous start Wednesday morning when Sweden struck for five points in the first end en route to a 7-5 win.

The afternoon session proved no better as Scotland, a pre-tournament favorites, scored two points in an extra end to win 9-7 in a seesaw battle between two sides destined to miss the playoffs starting Friday.

"It was really tough, but really close," Chinese skipper Wang said of the two games. "I think we hadn't woken up (against Sweden). It was the first game in morning."

China skip Wang Bingyu (R) reacts to her shot as Canada's Laine Peters watches from behind during their game at the World Women's Curling Championships in Lethbridge, Alberta March 18, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

After quickly going down 5-0 to the defending champions, China made it a game in getting two points in both the third and fourth ends to make it 5-4.

The Swedes picked up a point in the fifth end, while China countered in the eight. After the Swedes picked up another point in the ninth to make it 7-5, China conceded the 10th end when there was no chance to pick up two points to tie the match.

With Scotland going up by two points in the ninth end, China roared back with two points in the 10th to force an extra end.

"We tried to steal at nine, but they (Scotland) got the two," Wang said. "In the 10th they missed the rock and we got two back. We lost the fourth and fifth ends and they got two points. I think that was important and they were able to steal two points."

China closes out the tournament Thursday with a morning meeting against the Czech Republic, followed by Germany, the 2010 world champion, in the evening.

"Tomorrow we'll play for the win," Wang said. "For us, this is a new team. I have many years of world championship experience, but for my team, for this team, it's really new. For a new team, for us to lose games, play not so well, it's normal. It's not a good week for us."

China skip Wang Bingyu (C) watches her shot as teammates Lui Jinli (L) and Zhou Yan sweep during their game against Canada at the World Women's Curling Championships in Lethbridge, Alberta, March 18, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Other morning games had hosts Canada beating the surprising South Koreans 7-5, while the Swiss doubled Italy 8-4. The United States got past the Czech Republic 6-4.

In the afternoon, the US team won their second match of the day with a dominant 7-2 hammering of Russia, Denmark beat the Swiss 7-4, and Canada squeaked past Germany 5-4.

The evening session saw Russia beat the Czechs 9-6, while the Swedes edged Scotland 3-2. Denmark got past Italy 5-4 and South Korea rebounded to beat the Germans 9-4.

Through five days of competition, Sweden, Canada and South Korea are tied for first with a record of 7-2, while the Swiss hold the fourth and final playoff spot at 6-3. Denmark and the US, both 5-4, have an outside chance to advance with wins in their final two matches of round-robin play.

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]