MOSCOW, March 21 (R-Sport) – Looking to make up for their Olympic failure on home ice last month, the Russian women’s curling team on Friday made into the world championships playoffs for the first time.
In the Canadian city of Saint John, Anna Sidorova’s team finished third in the round robin despite an 8-7 defeat to the Czech Republic on the last day of the preliminary stage.
To reach the semifinals, Russia will face either Olympic runner-up Sweden or South Korea, which will play a tie-breaker later Friday.
Meanwhile, host Canada and Switzerland, represented by their reserve squads to allow their Olympians a break, will meet in the first playoff game. The winner will go straight to the final while the losing side will have a second chance in the semifinals.
Russia’s best result at the world championships to date is fifth place in 2005.
