Italy Leads Wheelchair Curling Qualification

Despite a rocky beginning for Italy, the team is currently ahead after three rounds of competition at the 2010 World Wheelchair Curling Qualification in Lohja, Finland. The Italians had a rough start however as their skip Andrea Tabanelli had to return home on the first day of competition. But with the changes, the team is still doing well, winning against Russia, 11-10. In the second game against Denmark on 8 November, the Italian team was down 4-0 after three ends, but managed to turn the game around with an impressive 6-5 victory.

And in the third game, Italy continued their form giving Slovakia a three-point lead before taking a three in the third end with two shots from Edigio Marchese. Marchese is the team’s skip for the week.

Sharing the second spot with two wins each are China, Russia and Switzerland.

From what has been seen in the first two days, Japan and China have the potential to do well in the tournament. The two teams played in the first draw with China gaining a five point lead in the first three ends and Japan coming back to eventually win in the last end.

Host country Finland had a tough second day, with Switzerland remaining in the lead throughout the game. In their second game, Finland was down 5-0 to Latvia after three ends and the Finnish managed to take only one point from the fourth end. Finland however kept stealing away in the fifth and sixth ends and finally gained the lead with an impressive steal of three in the seventh end. Latvia needed one point for an extra end, but their last draw ended up just 2cm long and Finland eventually won the game 7-5, taking their first tournament.

Today’s games in the morning draw are Switzerland-Slovakia, Denmark-Russia, China-Finland and Italy-Japan. Latvia will have a bye, due to the French not being able to compete.