World champions China bring Canada's winning run to an end

 BINGYU Wang of China inflicted Canada's Cheryl Bernard's first defeat of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver - further denting Great Britain's hopes of reaching the knock-out stages.

HITTING FORM: China become the first team to down hosts Canada in Vancouver, collecting their fifth win in six in the process (Getty Images)

Bernard, just like compatriot Kevin Martin in the men's ranks, has been in formidable form at the Vancouver Olympic Centre and came into the match against Wang, having won all five of her matches.

But Bernard met her match in Wang, the current world champion, having defeated reigning Olympic champion Anette Norberg of Sweden in Korea last year.

China took a while to get going in Vancouver, but Wang is now firing on all cylinders and has followed up her opening defeat to Great Britain's Eve Muirhead with five wins in six matches, including this 6-5 victory over the hosts.

Wang held her nerve in the extra end to secure a single after the scores were locked a 5-5 after ten, to move to third in the round robin standings behind Norberg and Bernard, who both have five wins from six matches.

China were in the ascendancy throughout and stormed into a 3-0 lead after two ends. That soon became 4-1 but three consecutive singles for Bernard levelled things up at 4-4.

Both skips exchanged singles, with Bernard securing hers in the tenth end but it was Wang who grabbed the impetus in the 11th to secure victory.

Meanwhile, Norberg wrapped up a comfortable 9-3 victory over the USA's Debbie McCormick while Germany's Andrea Schoepp edged out Moe Meguro of Japan 7-6.

That means that Muirhead and co must win their remaining two matches if they are to advance to the semi-finals - and even victories over Denmark and the formidable Canada would not guarantee progress.

Earlier in the day, Great Britain suffered their third consecutive defeat and their fourth of the competition as Mirjam Ott of Switzerland overcame Muirhead 10-6.

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Day ten of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver