Italy Through to World Wheelchair Curling Championships

Italy is through to the 2012 World Wheelchair Curling Championships after a dramatic final day of play at the World Championship Qualification event at the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja, Finland.

After losing its first play-off game Thursday (10 November), 10-9, in the morning against Slovakia, Italy went on to beat host Finland, 6-5, to secure its place at the World Championships next February in South Korea.

Italian skip Andrea Tabanelli was relieved quite relieved.

“I was upset this morning, due to a mistake I made with my last stone, I lost us the game,” he told the Wheelchair Curling Federation.

“We were very lucky to have a second chance and play again this afternoon. I am delighted that we won. This win is for my team, who are fantastic and have managed to form a strong bond.”

Slovakia actually finished first at the qualifying tournament and was followed by Italy and Finland. Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Japan and Latvia rounded out the field in that order.

Italy now joins Slovakia, Canada, Scotland, Norway, Russia, China, Korea, USA and Sweden, who have already qualified for the World Wheelchair Curling Championships The 2012 Worlds will be staged at the Uiam Ice Rink, Chuncheon City, South Korea from 18-25 February.

The Championships will be the second opportunity for nations to gather qualification points for the Wheelchair Curling Competition at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia in 2014.