NISKU, Alta. — The dream has become a reality for Chinami Yoshida.
After Team Satsuki Fujisawa became the first Japanese club to win a Grand Slam of Curling title at the 2023 Canadian Open, the vice skip’s wish was to see other Japanese teams playing in the series, too.
Two seasons later, that goal has come to fruition with Japanese teams skipped by Sayaka Yoshimura, Ikue Kitazawa and Miku Nihira also competing in the Co-op Canadian Open women’s division this week at the Silent Ice Center. While Yoshimura has played in the series before and finished runner-up in the 2019 Masters, Kitazawa and Nihira are making their top-tier debuts.
“We’re so excited to play in this Grand Slam because there are four Japanese women’s teams,” Yoshida said. “My dreams come true praying that many Japanese teams are playing in Grand Slams.”
Their paths crossed as Team Fujisawa faced Team Kitazawa during Draw 11 action on Thursday. Fujisawa fended off Kitazawa 10-6 to stay undefeated at 3-0 and qualify for the playoffs. Kitazawa (0-3) is at the opposite end of the table and has been eliminated from contention.
“This competition is also very important for us to qualify for our Japanese curling championship,” Yoshida said. “So far, so good. I’m so happy to win that.”
While it might seem funny that they flew all the way over here just to face each other, playing in the Grand Slams on arena ice will also help toward their national championship.
“That’s very good because the Japanese curling championship will be held on arena ice for the first time for Japanese curling in its history,” Yoshida said. “So the Grand Slam is a good practice place to play on arena ice and not curling club ice, so again, that’s why I’m so happy to win this game on arena ice.”
Yoshida has noticed interest in the Grand Slam of Curling is increasing back home.
“Lots of Japanese fans watch our games, so I’m so like high tension to play in the Grand Slams,” she said with a smile.
Elsewhere in Draw 11, Switzerland’s Team Silvana Tirinzoni took two in the eighth end to edge Italy’s Team Stefania Constantini 6-4. Both teams hold 2-1 records.
South Korea’s Team Eun-ji Gim defeated Canada’s Team Kaitlyn Lawes 8-4. Third Selena Njegovan has moved up to skip the Winnipeg club with Kaitlyn Lawes on maternity leave. Lawes gave birth to her second daughter, Ella, this past Friday.
Team Lawes stole four in the second end after Gim’s last shot rolled deep. That was all the offence for Team Lawes, though. Gim recovered with a count of three in the third and then turned the tables, stealing a pair of points in four, followed by three consecutive singles in ends five, six and seven.
South Korea’s Team Seung-youn Ha beat Switzerland’s Team Xenia Schwaller 7-4.
Ha is now at 2-1 while Gim, Lawes and Schwaller are all at 1-2.
UP NEXT
One more draw is on tap at 10 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. MT with broadcast coverage on Sportsnet, Sportsnet One and Sportsnet+.
NOTES
The Co-op Canadian Open is the second Grand Slam of Curling event of the season featuring 16 of the top men’s teams and 16 of the top women’s teams from around the world. … Round-robin play runs through to Friday evening. The top eight teams advance to the playoffs. If necessary, one tiebreaker draw will be played Saturday morning. … The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Saturday with both finals on tap Sunday.
