Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team Qualifies for World Championships

The Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team secured the first of the remaining two places for the World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2011 by beating Italy, 10-4, at the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja, Finland.

Russia beat Japan, 9-6, and will meet Italy in the afternoon to play for the final spot at the World Championships in the Czech Republic next February.

The Italians got off to a lucky start in their game against China, stealing one in the first end. But the Chinese came back and scored a whopping seven in the second end and Egidio Marchese’s team struggled from then on to get back into the game.

Russia set off and established a clear lead in their game against Japan. But Katsuo Ichikawa brought his team right back into the game in the sixth end taking four points. The game went down to Russia’s last stone, with Andrey Smirnov drawing for one point.

China, Italy, Russia and Japan were the top ranked teams after the round robin play at the World Wheelchair Curling Qualification event and thus made it through to the final stage play-offs.