8 March 2025
China crowned World Wheelchair Curling champions
China were playing Korea on Saturday (8 March) afternoon at the Auchenharvie Leisure Centre for the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2025 gold medals.
China had last-stone advantage in the first end. After a perfect double take-out by Wang Haitao, they scored four. In the second end, Korea scored two after a hit-and-stay by Lee Hyeonchul.
China put together an excellent third end with some perfect draws and put another four on the board, 8-2. In the fourth, Lee Hyeonchul’s attempted run-back didn’t turn out as he planned, and Korea gave up two. China were leading by 10-2 at the break.
After a score of one for Korea in the fifth, China put another four on the board for a 14-3 lead in the sixth. At this point, Korea conceded the game and China became world champions.
After the game, China skip Wang Haitao said, “I’m very happy to become world champion again. I would like to thank the local organising committee and the volunteers for this great event.”
After the game, Korea skip Lee Hyeonchul said, “This is my first world medal, and I’d like to go even higher in the next years. This is my third world championship, and I feel like this year is the most wonderful and perfect, in terms of team performance as well.”
The gold medal winning Chinese team are skip Wang Haitao, third Chen Jianxin, second Zhang Mingliang and lead Li Nana, supported by alternate Zhang Qiang and coach Li Jianrui.
The silver medal winning Korean team are skip Lee Hyeonchul, third Nam Bongkwang, second Yang Huitae and lead Yun Heekyeong, supported by alternate Cha Jinho and coach Cho Yanghyun.
At the Closing Ceremony, newly crowned world wheelchair curling champions, China, were awarded with the Kate Caithness Salver, by Kate Caithness CBE, former President of World Curling.
Also at the Closing Ceremony, England’s Stewart Pimblett was presented with the World Curling Wheelchair Sportsmanship Award. The award is voted on by athletes who were invited to nominate a fellow competitor who, in their view, has best exemplified the traditional values of skill, honesty, fair play, sportsmanship and friendship during the championship.
Find all the results from the championship here.
At the conclusion of the world championship, the final Paralympic Qualification Points were awarded. The ten National Paralympic Committees who have qualified for the Wheelchair Curling Team Event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, have now been confirmed.
The qualified teams, in alphabetical order, are:
Canada
China
Great Britain (Scotland)*
Italy **
Latvia
Norway
Republic of Korea
Slovakia
Sweden
United States
A full breakdown of the Qualification Points and the qualification process can be found here.
*Points for Great Britain are gained by Scotland at World Wheelchair Curling Championships.
** Italy as the host of the Paralympic Winter Games 2026 are guaranteed qualification.
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