🥌 On December 11 in Kelowna, Canada, the Chinese mainland men's curling team stunned Japan 9-4, clinching the final spot for Milano Cortina 2026!
They powered through the round robin with a 6-1 record-snagging wins over the USA (9-8), the Philippines (5-2) and more. Skip Xu Xiaoming and his crew only hit a bump with a 6-9 loss to Japan late in the prelims.
In the do-or-die rematch, the team seized the hammer-the all-important last-stone advantage-and racked up four points in the ninth end to seal their Olympic berth. Now, both men's and women's rinks from the Chinese mainland are bound for the Winter Games.
From India's budding ice clubs to Malaysia's viral curling reels, this qualifier could ignite a wave of interest across South and Southeast Asia. Curling's chess-on-ice vibe is catching on! 🥶🌏
With Milano Cortina 2026 just over a year away, the excitement is real. Who's gearing up to cheer on their curlers? ❄️
Reference(s):
China beat Japan to claim men's curling berth for 2026 Winter Olympics
cgtn.com
