18 December 2025
Czechia secures first mixed doubles ticket to Milano Cortina 2026
Czechia beat Australia 6-5 in the first qualification game of the mixed doubles competition at the Olympic Qualification Event, and have booked their ticket for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
In the other qualification game between the two Group second-placed teams, Korea beat China by 7-3 and will now face Australia in the second qualification game. The winner of that game will secure the last available Olympic slot.
A winning performance from Czechia
In the third end of the game between Australia and Czechia, the score was tied at 1-1 when Australia’s Dean Hewitt ‘hogged’ one of his stones. The Australians relied on a double take-out by Tahli Gill to score one point for a 2-1 lead.
Then, in the fourth end, Czechia’s Julie Zelingrova played a gentle take-out to score three points and give her team a 4-2 lead.
The Czechs led by 5-2 in the sixth end when Australia’s Tahli Gill played a draw, to score two points and reduce the Czech lead to 5-4.
The game was tied at 5-5 in the eighth end when Czechia’s Zelingrova kept her nerve to play one final draw perfectly, scoring one, winning the game 6-5 and securing Czechia’s place at Milano Cortina 2026.
Afterwards, Czechia’s Vit Chabicovsky said, “We’re very proud, but it’s not sunk in yet. Maybe it will after a couple of hours. “
“I think when we have a lot on the line then that’s when we perform our best. The more there is on the line, the more nervous you are, the better we play.”
His teammate Julie Zelingrova simply said, “I think it’s great, amazing. I’m just so happy.”
Korea keep their Olympic dreams alive
Korea opened the scoring in their game against China with a delicate tap-back by Kim Seon-Yeong for two points and a 2-0 lead.
By the seventh end, Korea held a 6-3 lead, and when China’s Ye Zixuan got her angles wrong on an in-off attempt, she gave Korea a steal of one more point and a 7-3 lead.
China then conceded in the eighth end with a final score of 7-3 to Korea, keeping Korea’s Olympic hopes alive.
After Korea’s win, Jeong Yeongseok said, “It’s the first time we were playing in a game like this and it was also the first time in a game like this for our opponents, so it was a matter of focus and we managed to focus a little bit more than our opponents.”
Korea now face Australia in a winner-takes-all second qualification game.
All Olympic Qualification Event games are available on the Curling Channel, however, there may be restrictions due to broadcast partner agreements.
Find all results and standings from the mixed doubles event here.
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