2 March 2024

Two-win opening day for Norway in Gangneung

The SD Biosensor World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2024 began on Saturday 2 March in the Gangneung Curling Centre.

The first day of competition featured two sessions of round-robin play.

Session 1

Last year’s silver medallists, Canada met hosts Korea in the first session. Canada had a great start to the game and were leading by 5-1 after three ends. They eventually won by 9-6.

Talking about the importance of getting their first win, Canada third Ina Forrest said, “I think it takes all the pressure off. Once you have that first win, it kind of feels like you’re set up for the whole week. So I think it’s really important.”

Talking about their game plan against Korea, she added, “We had expected them to be a lot more of a hitting team, so they kind of surprised us with their draw game. So I think we just adapted really well to what we saw and changed our plan to fit what we were seeing.”

Scotland — who took bronze last year — played Latvia. Scotland had a flying start to the game and stole three in the first two ends. In the third, Latvia fourth Agris Lasmans made a perfect take-out for two. The teams were tied at 5-5 playing the eighth end. In that end, Latvia stole a single and won by 6-5.

Norway met Czechia. Norway started with a steal of two when the last Czech stone wrecked on a guard in the first end. Norway eventually won by 7-3, mostly due to a big score of three in the fifth.

After the game, Norway third Geir Arne Skogstad said, “It’s always good to get the first game over and of course it’s lovely to win the first game, always. It gave a very good start to the tournament and it’s important for everyone’s well-being.”

Both Slovakia and Estonia qualified for this event from the World Wheelchair-B Championship in November 2023. They played each other in the first session in Gangneung. Slovakia scored in four consecutive ends and won by 10-4.

Session 2

In the evening, title-defenders China played Sweden in the re-match of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic final. After two blank ends, Sweden’s fourth Marcus Holm missed a take-out in both the third and fourth end, and China stole a single in each. China were leading by 3-2, playing the eighth. In that end, Sweden’s Holm came up short with his last draw attempt and China won without needing to throw their last, 5-2.

United States played Italy, who qualified for the event through the World Wheelchair-B Championship. In a low-scoring game, Italy were leading by 2-1 after four and by 4-2 after seven. In the eighth, United States’ Matthew Thums wasn’t successful with his tap attempt and they scored only a single. Italy 4, United States 3 is the final score.

Both Korea and Estonia wanted to improve on their record when they met each other. Korea had perfect stone-placement from the start and were leading by 7-0 at half-time. Estonia put a three on the board in the seventh, but conceded the game in the eighth. The final score is 8-3, Korea winning.

In the last evening game, Scotland attempted to pick up their first win over Norway. The Norwegians kept their form from the afternoon and were leading by 4-0 after three.

In the fourth, Scotland fourth Gregor Ewan made a perfect take-out for two and a 2-4 scoreline at half time. Norway’s Jostein Stordahl was heavy with his draw attempt in the eighth to give up a single to Scotland, and take the game to an extra end, 5-5.

In that extra end, Scotland’s Ewan wrecked on a guard with his last to give up a single and hand the victory to Norway, 6-5. This was the second win of the day for Norway, and with this, they are leading the standings after two sessions of play.

Opening Ceremony

Before the first draw, the official Opening Ceremony of the championship took place in the Gangneung Curling Centre. Upon entering the field of play, athletes were greeted by PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic mascot, Bandabi.

Several local dignitaries and World Curling Vice-President Hugh Millikin delivered greetings in person, while World Curling President Beau Welling and Gangwon State Governor Kim Jin Tae sent video greetings.

“With us today is Mr Seung Min Yoo, President of the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation. You must be thrilled that we are once again returning to this Olympic and Paralympic venue and the legacy it has developed in our sport,” said Millikin.

“Wheelchair Curling in Korea has developed into a special discipline and we are joined here today by the President of the Korea Paralympic Association, Mr Jin Owan Jung and President of the Korea Para Curling Association, Mr Kyung Sun Yoon. You should be very proud of the development of wheelchair curling here in Korea.

“Our local organising committee, led by Mr. Sung Il Kim and with support from the event sponsors, especially our title sponsor SD Biosensor, have done a fantastic job preparing everything for an exciting week of curling.

“Take the time to enjoy the curling and the competitiveness, but also the friendships you’ll forge here. Savour the honour of representing your country here in this special Olympic and Paralympic venue,” he added.

Click here for the standings after day one.

Click here for all the results and the playing schedule.

For information about streaming, click here.

Engage with the World Curling Federation during the SD Biosensor World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2024 on TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook, and Weibo and by searching the hashtags #WWhCC and #curling