4 March 2026
Historic Paralympic Winter Games victory for People’s Republic of China
History was made at the Cortina Olympic Stadium, when eight teams took to the ice to play the first-ever wheelchair mixed doubles curling session at the Paralympic Winter Games on Wednesday evening.
People’s Republic of China picked up the historic win as they beat reigning world champions Japan in seven ends.
The Chinese were leading 4-3 at the break, after a score of four in the third. An angle-tap by their female player Wang Meng produced two more points for them in the fifth for a 6-3 lead.
In the sixth, People’s Republic of China continued to put pressure on Japan and forced Ogawa Aki to produce a precise draw. She came up short and gave up a steal of three for a 9-3 Chinese lead. Japan called for Power Play in the seventh, but Ogawa’s hit-and-stay was only enough to give up a single steal. This gave Team China a 10-3 win and a place in history as the first team to win a wheelchair mixed doubles game at the Paralympics.
Afterwards, China’s Yang Jinqiao said, “This is my first Paralympic Games and I’m very happy that we started with a win. I was very happy when we scored four, but I needed to quickly calm myself down and refocus.”
The home team, 2024 world bronze medallists, Italy, met Republic of Korea. The teams were tied at 4-4 at the break. In the second half, Italy took control, and scored singles in three consecutive ends for a 7-4 lead. In the eighth, the Koreans needed three points to take the game to an extra end. Looking at the crowded four-foot, they decided not to throw their last, score one, and give a 7-5 win to Italy.
2025 world bronze medallists, Estonia played Great Britain in a back-and-forth battle. The teams traded scores of two in the first three ends, and after a single steal in the fourth, Estonia were leading 5-2.
The momentum shifted after the break; Great Britain scored two and then stole three for a 7-5 lead. Estonia battled back with a score of three in the seventh. In the eighth, Britain’s Joanna Butterfield was unsuccessful with her difficult promotion take-out attempt with her last, giving up a steal of two and giving Estonia the win, 10-7.
In the final game of the evening, 2023 world champions, Latvia played United States of America. The Americans led 3-0 after two, which made Latvia call for an early Power Play in the third. The call paid off, resulting in a score of four and a 4-3 lead. In the fourth, United States of America’s Laura Dwyer played an excellent draw to score three and the Americans took a 6-4 lead at the break.
Latvia had last-stone advantage in the eighth, trailing by one. Their female player Polina Rozkova was left with a difficult draw to score a single with her last and force an extra end. She wrecked on a guard and gave up a steal of four. This meant an 11-6 win for United States of America.
On Thursday, wheelchair curling action continues with two mixed doubles sessions. The mixed teams start their Paralympic programme on Saturday morning.
Follow the live scores from the wheelchair mixed doubles at Milano Cortina 2026 here.
Find the full wheelchair curling schedule and results here.
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