Wheelchair Curling Mixed Team Advances to Paralympic Semifinals... Hopes for a "Couple's Medal"

The Korean wheelchair curling mixed team defeated host nation Italy to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics.

The national team, consisting of Nam Bonggwang (45), Bang Minja (64), Yang Heetae (58), Lee Hyunchul (40), and Cha Jinho (54), claimed a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory over Italy in their final ninth preliminary match, held at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Italy on the 12th (local time). Both teams had four wins and four losses in the preliminaries, making this a do-or-die match for a spot in the final round, and Korea secured a dramatic come-from-behind win.

Wheelchair curling mixed team player Hyuncheol Lee is delivering a stone during the mixed team wheelchair curling preliminary match against Italy at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics held on the 12th (local time) at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Italy. Cortina D'Ampezzo - Photo by Yonhap News

Korea gave up two points in the first end but immediately responded with three points in the second end to take the lead. Italy regained the advantage in the third end by scoring two points. After a blank end in the fourth, Korea scored one point each in the fifth and sixth ends to reclaim the lead at 5-4. Although they allowed Italy to tie the game by conceding one point in the seventh end, Korea maintained composure as they held the last stone advantage in the final end and sealed the victory.

Finishing the preliminaries with a total record of five wins and four losses, Korea secured the fourth spot behind Canada (nine wins), China (eight wins and one loss), and Sweden (five wins and four losses) to advance to the semifinals.

On March 13, Korea will face Canada, who finished first in the preliminary round with an undefeated record, for a place in the final. In their previous preliminary matchup, Korea lost to Canada 3-6.

The mixed team's advance to the semifinals has also drawn attention to the possibility of a "couple's medal," as Nam Bonggwang of the mixed team is the husband of Baek Hyejin, who previously won a silver medal in wheelchair curling mixed doubles.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.