Scotland lose in wheelchair mixed doubles final

In the World Wheelchair Curling Mixed Doubles final, Scotland’s Hugh Nibloe and Charlotte McKenna lost to Japan.

After two ends of Sunday’s decider in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, the pair had a 2-1 lead. but Japan won 11-2 after that with dominance.

The 6-5 semi-final victory over South Korea on Saturday by Nibloe and McKenna made it possible for Great Britain to qualify for the next Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina.

Scotland’s performances over the previous three years made it clear that Britain was qualified for the team event.

The wheelchair curling competition will begin on March 4 and will run until March 6 in Italy.

The weight that has come off our shoulders now is enormous, said Nibloe after Saturday’s victory, “I guess it’s been at the back of our minds all week that Paralympic qualification was primarily what we were here for, but we didn’t think at any point that we would have had to make the final.”

“We’re delighted to see that seven wheelchair curlers will compete in the Paralympics in the coming year.