Canada still on top at Wheelchair Curling Worlds

After three days of competition in Sochi at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships, Canada, USA and Scotland lead the pack. 19 Feb 2013

A picture of 2 mens in wheelchairs playing curling

The Canada's wheelchair curling team played another strong games beating 2012 bronze medallist China (9-5) and Slovakia (7-3).

ⒸWorld Curling Federation / Alina Paulyuchik

By IPC

“The Koreans have medalled many times, so we knew it was going to be a tough game.”

Play resumed at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships on Monday (18 February), as Canada remained unbeaten at the top of the standings with five wins.

The Canadians, led by skip Jim Armstrong, produced another two strong performances beating 2012 bronze medallists China in the morning, 9-5, and Slovakia in the afternoon, 7-3.

Behind them is USA, as Patrick McDonald led his side to a third consecutive win, a 5-4 victory against Sweden.

USA had originally been due to play on Sunday evening, but a problem with the ice cooling plant which led to session four being postponed did little to affect his team, which has only started playing together in its present lineup this season.

“I don’t think we got out of the groove,” McDonald told World Curling. “We took the opportunity to talk and bond a little more.”

Host nation and reigning world champions Russia had a mixed day, winning their morning game against Finland, 7-3, before being beaten by China in the afternoon, 5-3.

China won their first game of the Championships, as 24-year-old skip Haitao Wang led the team to a victory over Russia after losing to Canada earlier in the day.

Scotland returned to their winning ways with a 6-5 win over Korea and then a 5-2 victory over Norway.

“To get a win on the board for us is great,” Scottish skip Aileen Neilson told World Curling. “The Koreans have medalled many times, so we knew it was going to be a tough game.”

Korea, meanwhile, have yet to win a game at the Championships, as they then went on to lose their afternoon game to Finland by a score of 8-7.

In their quest for vital Paralympic points, the Finns changed their skip, with fourth player Markku Karjalainen taking over from third Vesa Hellman. Karjalainen produced a great final draw to score two and win the game.

Following the round robin stages, playoff games will begin on Friday (22 February), with the bronze and gold-medal games schedule for Saturday.

Qualification points for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will be awarded at the end of the Championships.

Live coverage of all games on Sheet C can be viewed worldwide here.

Standings after six round robin sessions:

1. Canada 5-0

2. USA 3-0

3. Scotland 3-2

4. Sweden 2-1

5. Finland 2-3

5. Russia 2-3

7. Norway 1-2

7. Slovakia 1-2