Daily Express

GB set for test of their medal

- RICHARD LEWIS

TEAM GB have been tasked with claiming their biggest medal haul in Winter Olympics history after UK Sport announced their targets for next month’s Games in Pyeongchan­g.

UK Sport, the funding agency who distribute money to elite Olympic and Paralympic sport, have challenged Britain to win four to 10 medals in South Korea.

Britain won four medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics, equalling the 1924 haul from Chamonix, but the Sochi bounty could rise following the Russian doping scandal.

The Games begin on February 9 and short-track star Elise Christie could achieve over half of the medal target single-handedly.

After a triple gold medal triumph at the World Championsh­ips last year, Christie is in a good place to make up for her disqualifi­cation in Sochi as she competes in three discipline­s.

“The target of a best Winter Games is indicative of just how far the athletes have progressed over the past four years,” said Team GB chef de mission Mike Hay.

Curling, which has received more than £5million in funding, is predicted to produce at least one medal, with Eve Muirhead’s women’s team a strong hope. MARTIN PHILLIPS missed six match darts before finally sealing a 3-1 win over Daniel Day to reach the second round of the BDO World Championsh­ip.

Rookie Day, 29, had shown no signs of nerves as he took the first set but Phillips, 57, twice a semi-finalist at Lakeside, levelled before his experience told in the decisive third set.

He made the key first break of the match to go 2-1 up and never relinquish­ed his lead.

 ??  ?? CHRISTIE
CHRISTIE

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom