Athletes of Sweden celebrate after winning the curling women's bronze medal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)
BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Defending champions Sweden secured the bronze medal of women's team curling at Beijing 2022 by beating reigning world champions Switzerland 9-7 here Saturday evening.
Sweden took the lead 3-2 in the first half, and further scored three points in the sixth end by capitalizing on the Swiss' miss, moving ahead at 6-2.
Switzerland got two back in the seventh before the Swedes added two more in the eighth.
With a sound build-up and splendid draws, Switzerland managed to score three points and reduced their deficit to 8-7 in the ninth end, but Sweden secured their victory by scoring one single point in the last.
This is the third Olympic curling medal for Sweden at Beijing 2022 after they won a gold in the men's team and a bronze in the mixed doubles.
When talking with their families through video call, the Swedish women cried and laughed.
On whether the bronze means the same as the gold four years ago, Anna Hasselborg, skip of Sweden, said: "It's very hard to compare. Of course, a gold is a gold, but in this tournament, the bronze feels as a gold with all the struggles we have been through."
"We really show that we are a team that you can never shake up," she added. "I'm going to hug my little girl after returning home." ■
