It was a historic Saturday morning at the Almaty Arena in Kazakhstan. In the 30th and final Pacific-Asia Curling Championships, hosts, Kazakhstan women and Chinese Taipei men won their first ever bronze medals at an international curling championship. In addition, Korea women will face Japan in the gold medal game.
In the women’s semi-final, Kazakhstan met Korea’s Eun-Jung Kim.
In the fourth end, Korea held a 3-0 lead, until Kazakhstan attempted a hit and ticked off a guard, giving Korea a steal of two and a 5-0 advantage.
Kazakhstan made a hit and stay for a single point in the sixth end to score their first point of the game to go down 5-1.
The game took a jump in the sixth end when Korea scored three on an open take-out and took a 8-1 lead. Kazakhstan conceded after eight ends with the final score being 10-2.
Kazakhstan is skipped by Angelina Ebauyer and backed by third Sitora Alliyarova, second Tilsimay Alliyarova, lead Regina Ebauyer and alternate Ayazhan Zhumabek.
Korea will meet Japan’s Sayaka Yoshimura in the gold medal game at 14.00. Both teams have now qualified their Member Association for a spot at the BKT Tires and OK Tire World Women’s Curling Championship 2022 in Prince George, Canada from 19-27 March.
Chinese Taipei men claim bronze
Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan traded single points for the first three ends of their game. But, in the fourth end, Chinese Taipei put three points on the board to go up 4-2.
The hosts scored two in the fifth end with a precise raise take-out to level the game 4-4.
Chinese Taipei skip, Ting-Li Lin, attempted a hit for two points in the sixth end, but over curled and scored just a single to go up 5-4.
With a great split for two in the eighth end, Chinese Taipei took a 7-6 lead.
In the tenth end, Lin made a perfect draw to the button to tie the game 8-8 and force an extra end.
In the extra end, Kazakhstan tried to hit and roll off of a stone in the back of the rings, but the shot didn’t curl enough and Chinese Taipei stole the victory, 9-8.
“This is the first international medal for Chinese Taipei and only the second time Chinese Taipei were able to get into the semi-finals and to take a medal home. We are very happy!” said third player, Nelson Wang.
Skip Ting-Li Lin is joined by Wang, second Luis Yi Liu, lead Kai-Wen Cheng and alternate Victor Lee.
Results
Women’s semi-final: Kazakhstan 2-10 Korea
Men’s bronze medal game: Chinese Taipei 9-8 Kazakhstan
