Japan's Fortius curling team faced elimination from the group stage at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina after a closely contested match against the Italian team that ended in a 6-8 defeat. Despite employing new strategies, including the first-time use of substitute player Mina Kobayashi in the second position, Fortius could not secure the necessary win, bringing their overall record in the tournament to 1 win and 6 losses. With two matches remaining, their chances of advancing have been completely extinguished.

The match showcased a tightly matched competition, with both teams struggling to read the curves of the stones, leading to a back-and-forth battle that persisted until the final end. With the score tied at 6-6 heading into the last end, Japan faced a disadvantage as the lead team but managed to leave a stone near the button. However, the Italian team capitalized on their last shot, decisively knocking Japan's stone out and clinching the victory. Both teams had a successful shot percentage of 76%, but Japan's inability to take the last shot in the final end played a crucial role in their loss.

Mina Kobayashi, the youngest team member at 23 years old, expressed her intent to gain valuable experience from the Olympic games, despite the tough outcome. While difficulties were evident in her precise takeout shots, her positive energy and encouraging presence reportedly uplifted the team's morale. The aim for Olympic gold has now definitively slipped away from Fortius, leaving them with a mix of disappointment and determination to give their all in the upcoming matches as they focus on using this experience for future growth.