S. Korea Fails to Win Wheelchair Curling Bronze at PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games
South Korea's Seo Soon-seok (R) prepares to throw a stone during the bronze medal game against Canada at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics at Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on March 17, 2018. (Yonhap) (LEAD) S. Korea fails to win wheelchair curling bronze at PyeongChang Winter Paralympics GANGNEUNG, South Korea, March 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea failed to win bronze in the wheelchair curling competition at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics after losing 5-3 to Canada on Saturday. The South Korean team of Seo Soon-seok, Bang Min-ja, Cha Jae-goan, Jung Seung-won and Lee Dong-ha was defeated by Canada in the bronze medal game at Curling Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. South Korea was looking for its second curling medal at the Winter Paralympics since Vancouver 2010. Eight years ago, South Korea earned silver following a 8-7 loss to host Canada. South Korea advanced to the last four as the top performer among 12 competitors in the round-robin preliminary round with nine wins and two losses, but it fell 8-6 to Norway in the semifinals to play the bronze medal game with Canada. Canada, which lost 7-5 to South Korea in the preliminary round, drew first blood by scoring two points in the opening end. South Korea faced danger of surrendering points in the second end, but Cha made a successful double takeout hammer throw to save the team. South Korea cut the deficit to one in the third, but Canada scored two points in the fourth to make the score 4-1. In the fifth, South Korea had a chance to score two points, but Cha's draw shot wasn't successful and earned only one point. The two teams scored one point each in the next two ends. South Korea needed two points in the eighth to force the game to the extra end but failed to complete the task. "I am disappointed to finish fourth, and I am disappointed that the team did not do as well as usual," South Korean coach Beak Jong-chul said after the game. "The team was nervous, and I think they need more experience playing in world championships and Paralympics." kdon@yna.co.kr
20180317151000S. Korea falls to Norway, Fails to Reach Wheelchair Curling Final at PyeongChang Winter Paralympics
South Korean wheelchair curlers gather around during their semifinal game against Norway at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics at Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on March 16, 2018. (Yonhap) S. Korea falls to Norway, fails to reach wheelchair curling final at PyeongChang Winter Paralympics GANGNEUNG, South Korea, March 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea failed to advance to the wheelchair curling final at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics after losing 8-6 to Norway on Friday. The South Korean team of Seo Soon-seok, Bang Min-ja, Cha Jae-goan, Jung Seung-won and Lee Dong-ha was defeated by Norway in a thrilling extra-end semifinal contest, failing to reach the gold medal game at Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. South Korea will next face Canada, which lost to China 4-3 in its semifinal game, for a chance at the bronze medal on Saturday. South Koreans were looking to reach the final for the first time since Vancouver 2010, where they earned silver. They were also looking secure the country's second medal at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics. South Korea reached the last four as the top performer among 12 competitors in the round-robin preliminary round with nine wins and two losses. Norway was one of the two teams that beat South Korea in the qualifying stage with a 9-2 win, and it again overcame the host. Unlike in the preliminary round, the two sides played a tight game. They were tied at 4-4 after four ends, but the Norwegians went ahead in the seventh by scoring two points. The South Koreans, however, didn't give up. The team fought back and earned two points to force the game to an extra end. In the ninth, however, South Korea committed hog line violations three times and let Norway control the game. Seo's last stone failed to take out Norway's two stones on the ice, which gave the visitors an 8-6 win. kdon@yna.co.kr
20180316184000S. Korea Reaches Wheelchair Curling Semifinals at PyeongChang Paralympics
South Korean wheelchair curlers celebrate after they beat Britain 5-4 in a round-robin match at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics at Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on March 15, 2018. (Yonhap) S. Korea reaches wheelchair curling semifinals at PyeongChang Paralympics GANGNEUNG, South Korea, March 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has reached the semifinals of the wheelchair curling competition at the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics on Thursday. The team of Seo Soon-seok, Bang Min-ja, Cha Jae-goan, Jung Seung-won and Lee Dong-ha beat Britain 5-4 in their 10th qualifying match at the PyeongChang Paralympics. South Korea now has eight wins and two losses to put it in second place alongside Canada, with only one match remaining in the qualifying round. South Korea will face China in its final qualifying match later Thursday at Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. China, currently the leader in the qualifying stage, already confirmed its semifinals berth Wednesday. Against Britain, South Korea gave up a point first but took a 2-1 in the second end. The host nation was down 4-2 after allowing three consecutive points but leveled the score in the seventh end. In the eight end, Jung made a perfect draw shot to seal the victory for South Korea The wheelchair curling competition at the PyeongChang Paralympics is being held in a round-robin format featuring 12 teams. The semifinals will be played Friday, and the medal winners will be determined Saturday. kdon@yna.co.kr
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