South Korean curlers pip Australia to mixed doubles spot at Milano Cortina Games

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Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Womens Final - Sweden v South Korea - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 25, 2018 - Kim Seon-yeong of South Korea reacts after the match. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Dec 18 - South Korean curlers Jeong Yeong-seok and Kim Seon-yeong secured a spot in the mixed doubles competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics after defeating Australians Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt 10-5 in the ‍final ​qualifier on Thursday.

Kim and Jeong took a 6-3 lead in ‍the fifth end and held their advantage through the remainder of the contest at the Kelowna Curling Club in British ​Columbia, Canada.

The ​Koreans, who beat China 7-3 in the first playoff round, set up three stones in the final end which could not be moved by the Australians, earning them a steal of three ‍points and the final quota on offer for the Games.

We just wanted to play our best ​whether we won or lost. We did play ⁠our best and now we get to go to the Olympics, and we will try our best there too, Jeong said.

Gill and Hewitt were the first Australians to compete in curling at the Olympics when they appeared at the ​2022 Games and were among the countrys top medal hopes for Milano Cortina.

They finished last in Beijing but had improved ‌significantly since, winning bronze at this years ​World Championships