South Korea mixed doubles curling team falls to Czech Republic for fifth straight round-robin loss

South Korea’s mixed doubles curling team of Kim Seon Yeong and Jeong Yeong Seok practice ahead of their round-robin game against Sweden at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics at the Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 4 (local time). [Photo=Yonhap News]

South Korea’s mixed doubles curling pair Kim Seon Yeong (Gangneung City Hall) and Jeong Yeong Seok (Gangwon Province Office) lost again in round-robin play at the 2026 Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, dropping their fifth straight match.

Kim and Jeong fell 9-4 to the Czech team of Julie Zelingrova and Vit Havlicovsky on Friday (Korea time) at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

South Korea had previously lost 10-3 to Sweden, 8-4 to Italy, 8-5 to Switzerland and 8-2 to Britain. The defeat to the Czech Republic left the team at the bottom of the standings.

Ten teams are competing in mixed doubles, with one man and one woman per team. After a round-robin in which each team plays the others once, the top four advance to the semifinals and final to determine the medals.

South Korea gave up two points in the first end. With last stone in the second, it had a chance for a big score but managed only one point. The team tied it 2-2 in the third by stealing a point after a precise freeze shot.

The Czech Republic pulled away in the fourth, taking two points for a 4-2 lead, then stole two more in the fifth after Jeong missed his final shot. Trailing 6-2, South Korea used its one power play of the game in the sixth end and scored two to close the gap, but surrendered three in the seventh and lost 9-4.

Kim and Jeong are scheduled to play the United States at 3:05 a.m. Saturday.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kang Sang Heon ksh@ajunews.com