Curlers need 'big-time' experience

Although it missed out on a shot at gold at the Sochi Winter Games, China's young men's curling team still made history by reaching the top four at an Olympics.

The team's Canadian coach, Marcel Rocque, said all the team lacked now was experience at big events.

"You don't know how you are going to respond in these high-stakes games until you have played in a couple of them and realize if you can handle it or what you need to change to be able to handle it," said Rocque, who took over as the team's coach in July 2013.

"In eight months, where we have gone from where we started is remarkable.

"If anybody is not satisfied with the performance this week from this team as they are in the top four at the Olympics - then they don't understand curling.

"But one of the big weak points of the team is big-game experience."

At the Sochi Games, China's men edged Britain 6-5 in their last round-robin game on Monday to reach the Olympic semifinals for the first time.

China, which finished eighth with two wins and seven losses at Vancouver 2010, had its best result in the round-robin format with seven wins and two losses this time around.

In the semifinals on Wednesday, China lost to curling powerhouse Canada 10-6 and will now play Sweden for the bronze on Friday.

"I know they are disappointed, as any athlete would be. There was a dream and the chance to fulfill that dream was just within a broom's reach," said Rocque, who has three world titles to his credit as a player.

"We had chances in the first few ends where we had those guys banging brooms and we forced them to one. In the second end, if we could have converted a two there, that could have been a little bit of a different game.

"Sometimes you have to seize that opportunity when you get it and we just didn't. At that point their momentum went up and ours went the opposite way.

"I did everything I could to help these boys beat the mighty Maple Leaf, but unfortunately there is just no room for error when you play Canada."

Curling is a young sport in China as the country only joined the World Curling Federation in 2002.

But it has made quick progress over the past decade.

China's women's team was crowned world champion in 2009 and a year later climbed onto the Olympic podium for the first time, taking a bronze at the Vancouver Games.

In Sochi, it is the men's turn to shine as they reached the semifinals for the first time while the women missed out on the final four after being just one victory away.

China's young curlers believe the Olympics have provided them with valuable experience as they look to the future.

"This is the first time we have reached the final four and I have gained a lot," said Ba Dexin, 23. "It's not easy for us to come this far at the Olympics."

The men's team's performances have also won the respect of their opponents.

"They are a good team. They played really tough," said Tom Coulterman, coach of the Canadian side.

Canadian skip Brad Jacobs, said: "They are playing really well. I think the influence of their Canadian coach Rocque has probably got them to this point. They have a lot of experience now.

"That team is on the up-and-up and they are going to continue to go that way."

As for the bronze medal match, Rocque said the result was not all that important, but giving a top-class performance was.

"I have already told the players there is a lot to fight for. Unfortunately, the dream isn't ending the way they had hoped, but there still is a lot to fight for," said Rocque.

"I want them to try hard. If our players go there and try their best then, at the end, the result is not so important.

"They can walk away satisfied. They will have done everything they could for their dreams, for their teammates and for their country. What else you can ask for at the Olympics?"

leilei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/21/2014 page24)