Sweden see off China to book final spot at World Championships

By Sportsbeat staff

SWEDEN are the first team into the Women's World Curling Championship final thanks to Anette Norberg just getting the better of China's Bingyu Wang in Esbjerg, Denmark.

THREE A MAGIC NUMBER?: Two-time Olympic champion Anette Norberg could pick up her third world title after seeing off China

In this tight affair, two-time Olympic champion Norberg led her side to a narrow 7-6 and can rest in the knowledge that the worst she can return home with is silver.

Both sides traded singles in the opening exchanges, but China took a 4-2 lead in the sixth end as they scored two points.

But Norberg replied superbly straight away, scoring three in the seventh to take the lead, adding to it with a single in the eighth for a 6-4 lead.

China leveled things up in the ninth but Norberg held her nerve in the tenth to take victory by a single point.

And despite being guaranteed at least silver, Norberg insists she is looking to add a third World Championship to her impressive CV.

"The girls were just amazing," she said. "I struggled a bit in the beginning, but they played really great curling today.  Now we're in the final, we're going for the gold."