Wheelchair curling: Scotland reach world mixed doubles final & secure GB Paralympic spot
The Scots’ Hugh Nibloe and Charlotte McKenna beat South Korea on Sunday in a huge victory in the final of the World Wheelchair Curling Mixed Tag Team Championship.
Stevenston’s 6-5 victory could also earn British status at next year’s Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, where it will debut.
Due to Scotland’s performance over the past three years, the UK has been eligible for team competitions.
Nibloe represented GB in Beijing in 2022, and McKenna took part in the competition because they knew they needed to compete in medal competitions to collect enough qualifying points to win one of seven qualifying matches.
They finished second in the pool and then beat the Czechs 10-4 in the quarterfinals 4-1 against the Koreans, who remained unbeaten in the group stage and scored two in the finals.
GB will face Japan in Sunday’s gold medal match.
“I guess the whole week has been in our minds, and the Paralympic qualifications are mainly what we have to do here, but we don’t think at any time we have to get to the finals to guarantee that qualification, so the weight that stands out from our shoulders is huge right now.”
“We are very happy that there will be seven wheelchair curlers for the Paralympic next year.
“It has more competition in our team and hopefully that will drive everyone else.”
