Norway’s Mia Larsen Sveberg with her Ice Player Assistant © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

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World Curling Media

12 March 2025

Canada, Korea and Norway remain unbeaten in Stevenston

Four sessions with 16 games were on the schedule at the World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles on Wednesday 12 March.

Teams in Group A played four games in total. Japan and Norway had a two-win first day on Tuesday and they played each other in the late afternoon. The game was tied at 4-4 after three ends, then at 5-5 after five. Eventually, Norway came on top, 9-8, and stay undefeated on three wins.

In the morning, last year’s silver medal winning Chinese team met Switzerland. China were leading by 4-2 at the break and eventually won 6-3. China later on picked up another win, over Finland, 7-3.

China’s Yang Jinqiao against Switzerland © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

United States played Brazil in the early afternoon. The Americans showed strong form, and after a 7-1 lead at half time, they won, 9-3.

Afterwards, Laura Dwyer said, “We got the five-ender in the second and we needed to maintain our composure, something that we’re working on.”

Her teammate, Steve Emt added, “We really have been working on mentally ereasing what just happened, whether it is positive or negative, and start fresh, a 0-0 game in the next end and try to do it again.”

Teams in Group B played six games altogether.

A newly-formed Czechia team met Canada in the early afternoon. Czechia had a 4-0 lead after two ends, but Mark Ideson and Ina Forrest switched gears from the third end, and won, 10-5.

After the game, Canada’s Mark Ideson said, “Czechia made a lot of shots, they’re a good team. They put the pressure on us early, we had a bit of a self-inflicted slow start, but we had a strong finish.”

Talking about playing mixed doubles, he added, “Mixed doubles is chaos! Always lots of rocks in play, lots of score swings up and down, fours and fives. Gets your heartrate going, that’s for sure.”

In the evening Canada had another win, this time against Estonia, 14-3. With these results, Canada are sitting on top of the group’s rankings with three wins and no losses. This was Estonia’s second game of the day. Earlier, they had won against Denmark, 12-7.

Estonia’s Ain Villau © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Last year’s bronze medallists, Italy met Latvia in the early afternoon. Latvia had a 5-0 lead at the break, and eventually won, 11-2, to pick up their second win of the championship.

Czechia made up for their earlier loss to Canada when they played Poland in the evening. The Czechs won that one in an extra end, 9-7.

Denmark met Italy in the evening, both teams looking to improve on their record for the day. Denmark won this encounter, 7-5.

Group C had six games on Wednesday as well.

Hosts Scotland were looking for their third win of the week when they met Korea in the evening. However, the Koreans came out firing and won the game, 10-5. This was Korea’s second win of the day as in the morning they had defeated Hungary, 6-2. Korea are leading the group’s rankings on three wins and no losses.

After their morning win, Korea’s Jeong Junho said, “This is my first time competing in this championship. I’m excited and nervous, but I’m trying to do my best as a member of the Korean national team.”

His teammate, Kim Hyemin added, “This is also my first time competing on this level. At first, I thought I’d be nervous, but now I actually enjoy this event and learning more about curling. And I’m also trying to do my best.”

Korea’s Kim Hyemin against Hungary © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Hungary tried to pick up their first win of the week later, when they met Slovakia in the afternoon. Hungary were leading by 4-0 after two ends, but it was Slovakia who were leading at the break, 5-4, and eventually won, 8-6. This one was Slovakia’s second win of the day. In the morning, they had beaten England, 10-4.

Afterwards, Slovakia’s Monika Kunkelova said, “If I have to compare to our previous game with Korea, our performance was better and I feel perfect!”

Slovakia’s Radoslav Duris against Hungary © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Türkiye had an excellent start to their two-game Wednesday. In the morning, they met Spain and won, 10-2, in seven ends, mostly due to a big score of three in the third and a steal of two in the fourth. Türkiye tried to keep their morning form in the afternoon, when they met England. However, Karen Aspey and Stewart Pimblett had a great game and won, 9-5.