Swedish Women's Curling Team Starts 2026 Olympics with Convincing Win Over Japan

The Swedish women's curling team, led by Anna Hasselborg, kicked off their campaign at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina with a strong 8-4 victory against Japan. Defending their bronze medal from Beijing 2022, Hasselborg's team demonstrated strategic mastery and early control throughout the match.

Sweden took an early lead that allowed them to dominate the game, pressuring Japan into challenging shots and errors. A pivotal moment came in the fourth end when Sweden scored three points, extending the lead to 4-1. Although Japan managed two points in the sixth end, Sweden responded swiftly with two points in the seventh, maintaining clear control. In the ninth end, Hasselborg aimed for three points but settled for one after a Japanese stone lingered close to the center. Japan conceded before the tenth end, solidifying Sweden’s win.

Anna Hasselborg reflected on the team’s preparation, noting they learned from the Swedish men's challenging ice experience in their initial match against Italy. "The surface feels wonderful to slide on, and one can be misled into thinking it should be easier than it is," she said. Fellow teammate Agnes Knochenhauer described the victory as a "dream start," emphasizing its importance as one of five key tournament goals, though she kept the others confidential.

The team had recently secured the European Championship in Finland, setting high expectations for the Olympic tournament. They are scheduled to face the USA in their next match on Thursday evening.