Curling: Dodds begins world title pursuit at Olympic venue in Sochi

Edinburgh curler Jennifer Dodds has a major role to play as Lockerbie’s Hannah Fleming begins the defence of her world junior title at the Sochi Olympic Ice Cube in Russia later today.

Dodds is the replacement for Alice Spence who was part of last year’s winning team in Ostersund, Sweden, but is now over the junior age limit of 21.

Fleming, Dodds and team-mates Lauren Grey and Abi Brown will face America’s Miranda Solem in their  opening round-robin match after challenging Eve  Muirhead for the Scottish senior title in Perth last week.

Kyle Smith hopes to improve on his 2012 bronze medal in the men’s event,  and the Perth skip starts  his campaign tonight  against China’s Zhongbao Zhang.