Italy men secure PyeongChang 2018 place
BySportsbeat
Updated 10/12/2017 at 12:08 GMT
Italy's curling team can start their preparations for next year's Olympic Winter Games after Joel Retornaz's rink triumphed at the Olympic Qualification Event 2017.
Joel Retornaz of Italy shouts instructions during the preliminary round of the men's curling between Italy and Canada during Day 8 of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games on February 18, 2006 at the Pinerolo Stadium in Pinerolo, Italy.
Image credit: Getty Images
The Italians became the first men's team to progress from the qualification event in Pilsen, Czech Republic after they beat Denmark 6-5.
The game was a tight affair throughout, featuring three blank ends before the match went to an extra end after Denmark could only settle for a point.
And Italy's fourth player Amos Mosaner was the hero for his country, playing a double take-out across the house to score the one point that gave his team victory.
Retornaz, who was also the skip at the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games, said: "It feels great, there are no words to describe it.
"I've been to the Olympics once, but we were the hosting country. This has such a different taste, earning the right on the ice feels great, it feels like a dream for me.
"Amos [Mosaner, Italy's fourth] likes to play that type of stone [double take-out with last stone]. We swept it all the way down and made the double – great!"
Italy join Canada, Sweden, United States, Japan, Switzerland, Great Britain, Norway and hosts Korea in the Olympic line-up.
Denmark have a second chance to join Italy at PyeongChang 2018 when they face the Czech hosts in the second sudden-death play-off game later on Sunday.
Sportsbeat 2017
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement