Scotland’s Hugh Nibloe and Charlotte McKenna lost to Japan in the final of the World Wheelchair Curling Mixed Doubles.
The pair led 2-1 after two ends of Sunday’s decider in Stevenston, North Ayrshire. but Japan dominated after that to win 11-2.
Nibloe and McKenna’s 6-5 semi-final success over South Korea on Saturday had secured Great Britain’s place in the event at next year’s Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, where it will make its debut.
Britain had already qualified for the team event, thanks to Scotland’s performances over the past three years.
The Games will take place in Italy from 6-15 March 2026, although the wheelchair curling competition will begin on 4 March.
“I guess it’s been at the back of our minds all week that Paralympic qualification was primarily what we were here to do, but we didn’t think at any point that we would have had to make the final to guarantee that qualification, so the weight that’s come off our shoulders now is huge,” said Nibloe after Saturday’s win.
“We’re absolutely delighted that there will be seven wheelchair curlers going to the Paralympics next year.
“It’s opened up a whole lot more competition within our squad and hopefully this will drive everybody else on.”
