United States are the gold medal winners at the World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship 2020 after defeating Switzerland, 4-3, in Thursday (15 April) afternoon’s final at the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja, Finland.
Reaching the final insured that both United States — skipped by Matthew Thums, with third Stephen Emt, second David Samsa, lead Batoyun Uranchimeg, with support from alternate Pamela Wilson and coach Russel Schieber —and Switzerland had already secured their place in the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2021, taking place in Beijing later this year.
Switzerland — skipped by Eric Decorvet, with third Hans Burgener, second Francoise Jaquerod, lead Laurent Kneubuehl, alternate Patrick Delacretaz and supported by coach Stephan Pfister — took home the silver medals.
Trailing 0-3 after five ends, United States scored two points in the sixth end, then went on to steal single points in the seventh and eighth end to complete their comeback for the win and the gold medals.
On their way to the final United states finished third in the round-robin stage with a 7-2 record, losing only to Switzerland and Italy, before overcoming Italy in an extra-end in this morning’s semi-final game.
At the same time, the bronze medal game took place, with the winner taking the last spot in the upcoming world championship along with their bronze medals.
In that game Italy — skipped by Angela Medardi at lead, with fourth Egidio Marchese, third Fabrizio Bich, second Matteo Ronzani and supported by alternate Orietta Berto and coach Roberto Maino — defeated Germany, 8-4.
With the bronze medal, Italy will compete in their first world wheelchair championship since 2012 in which both Skip Angela Menardi and Vice-Skip Egidio Marchese both competed.
The World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2021 is the final competition where qualification points for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games can be earned. This championship will also act as a Test Event for the Games and will take place in the Ice Cube this autumn.
You can follow the World Curling Federation in the lead up to the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2021 and the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Weibo and by searching the hashtags, #curling #Roadt2022 #WWhCC2021
