China's Zang Jialiang (left) and Ba Dexin sweep ahead of the rock during the men's curling bronze medal game against Sweden at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games on Friday. Photo: IC

 The Chinese men's national curling team failed to deliver a bronze medal on Friday after­ suffering a 6-4 defeat to Sweden in the men's third place playoff at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

But the four-place finish was the best record for the Chinese national men's curling team, who made their debut at the Winter Games four years ago in Vancouver.

Team China failed to take their last-stone advantage into a win in the extra end after a delivering-stone-touch blunder from Xu Xiaoming and an off-target stone from Liu Rui which failed to make a taken-out after the two sides tied at 4-4 in the regular 10 ends.

China coach Marcel Rocque looked close to tears as he rued two elementary line violations - not releasing the stone in time - which he believed cost his team a medal.

"It stings. It hurts," the Canadian said. "Sometimes you get beat because the other team outperforms you and sometimes you beat yourself," he added.

"Today was one of those. That really wasn't about them, that was about us and two mistakes."

Vice skipper Xu, 29, said his blunder would be a lifelong regret.

"I was anxious, thinking too much … That may be a lifelong regret for me, but I will channel it into positive pressure on me to fight more," Xu said with tears in his eyes.

"I'm proud of my teammates, we are always trying to get better results, but a lack of experience at key moments impaired our progress."

The two sides tied at 1-1 after three ends, and the game saw another blank end after Sweden took one more point.

Then China overtook in the sixth end with the last rock in hand.

Both teams obtained one point in their respective last-rock end except the eighth end which put the game into the extra end.

Previously in the men's round-robin session, China were outscored by Sweden 6-5.

Later on Friday Canada defeated  Britain 9-3 to claim their third successive Olympic gold medal.