Russia, Sweden and Switzerland lead Capital One World Women’s

Sweden, skipped by Anette Norberg of Härnosänd, moved into a tie with Russia and Switzerland Monday afternoon at the Capital One World Women’s in Esbjerg, Denmark, knocking off China’s Bingyu Wang, 7-5. Norberg, the reigning and two-time consecutive Olympic gold medallist, along with idle Russia (Liudmila Privivkova of Moscow) and Switzerland, skipped by two-time Olympic silver medallist Mirjam Ott of Davos, are now knotted at 3-1 after seven draws.
Amber Holland (Photo: World Curling Federation)

Amber Holland (Photo: World Curling Federation)

Meanwhile, Canada, skipped by Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland, put the brakes to a three-game losing streak, clipping Norway’s Linn Githmark, 7-5, to improve its record to 2-3 in a must-win affair. A three-spot in the fifth end put Holland in front to stay. “That was very important,” said the 36-year-old Holland. “We know we need wins, that’s what this game is all about. That was good to finish the day with a win, we played a lot better. (Alternate) Jolene (Campbell) came in – Tammy (Schneider, the regular second) didn’t feel well, so she just came in and did well. “We positioned the rocks better, in good spots and managed the ice a little bit better. We were more comfortable with it, and that’s key. We’re now where we wanted to be a few games earlier.” In other games, Scotland’s Anna Sloan of Lockerbie, after beating Canada in the morning draw, 7-3, pounded defending world champion Germany, skipped by Andrea Schöpp of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 9-3 while host Denmark, with Lene Nielsen of Hvidovre at the controls, made short work of Czech Republic’s Anna Kubeskova of Prague, 9-2. “It’s been a really good day,” said Sloan. “If someone had said to us that’s what we were going to get today, we’d have been more than happy. So we just need to keep it going for the next one.” Behind the three leaders are China and Scotland at 3-2, Denmark, Germany and Norway at 2-2, Canada and Czech Republic at 2-3, United States at 1-3 and winless Korea at 0-4. Canada has an evening bye, before playing its next games against Czech Republic Tuesday morning, followed by the United States (Patti Lank of Lewiston, NY) in the evening (live at 2:00 pm ET on TSN).