The Japanese curling team, Fortius, has faced its fifth loss in the Olympics against Canada, significantly decreasing its chances of advancing to the semifinals despite a valiant effort.
The Japanese women's curling team, Fortius, experienced yet another setback at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, losing to the Canadian team with a final score of 6-9. In a critical final end where Japan was down by 2 points, they attempted to position three stones in the house in hopes of a comeback, but Canada's final shot landed perfectly, sealing the game. This loss brings Fortius to a disappointing record of 1 win and 5 losses, placing them at the bottom of the standings at ninth out of ten teams. Even if they win the remaining three matches, qualifying for the semifinals seems highly unlikely.
Team skip Sayaka Yoshimura expressed her determination despite the challenges, stating they fought hard until the end and did their best to make shots. Notably, Canada's stature as the number one ranked team in the world presented insurmountable pressure, as the Japanese team was faced with an imperative to win and perform under stress. An early two-point lead was established; however, missteps in the third end saw them lose momentum when the Canadian team solidified their lead, thanks to Yoshimura's final stone that failed to land correctly.
The team's overall performance was hampered by low draw shot success rates, particularly among players other than lead Anna Ohmiyagata, who maintained a success rate of 97%. The overall pressure of the game affected the accuracy and cohesion among team members, resulting in missed opportunities that allowed Canada to recover from their earlier mistakes. Historical data from previous Olympics indicates that teams with such a losing record have never advanced beyond the preliminary league, making their situation even more dire as they approach the conclusion of their matches.
