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Australia qualifies for 2005 World Curling Championships

 

Australia qualifies for 2005 World Curling Championships

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AOC

The Australian Men's Curling team has qualified for the 2005 World Curling Championships after beating China 2 games out of 3 in the semi-final series at the Pacific Curling Championships in Chuncheon, Korea.

The Australian Men's Curling team has qualified for the 2005 World Curling Championships after beating China 2 games out of 3 in the semi-final series at the Pacific Curling Championships in Chuncheon, Korea.

Although the team went on to lose a very tight final 8-9 to New Zealand, the semifinal victory gives them a berth in the world titles for the first time since 1998.

The world championships in turn provide an opportunity to qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics, with the top six nations securing a place in the Torino Games line-up.

The Australian team of Ian Palangio, Hugh Millikin, John Theriault and Steve Johns – all from Sydney – won their way through the opening round robin rounds against China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, losing only to the Chinese.

In the semi final, they lost the first game of the three game match 5-6, but displayed immense character to come back and convincingly win the final two games 11-4, 6-3 to advance to the gold medal round.

Although disappointed to go down in the final, the place in the world championships and a shot at the Olympics was more than adequate compensation for the team.

The Men's World Curling Championships will he held in Victoria, Canada from April 2-10, 2005.

In the women’s tournament, Australia finished in fifth place, the experience and skill of the fully professional teams of China, Korea and Japan proving too strong.