Next step in bid to qualify

Scott Becker prepares to release his stone at the New Zealand Mixed Doubles Curling Competition...
Scott Becker prepares to release his stone at the New Zealand Mixed Doubles Curling Competition in Naseby yesterday. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON
Not all roads lead to Beijing, but in the arena of New Zealand curling, they do all lead to Naseby.

Earlier this year, New Zealand Curling’s first attempt to qualify a mixed doubles curling team for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics came up just short.

The Kiwi side at the 2021 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, was one win short of forcing a play-off for the last qualifying place.

The mixed doubles competition at the Naseby Indoor Curling Rink this weekend is the next step for curlers wanting to compete in the next Olympic qualifying event in December.

Twelve teams are competing in the qualifying tournament, including Courtney Smith and Anton Hood, who came so close to qualification in April.

However, there are a number of other teams in the field which will be pushing Smith and Hood all the way.

The top four finishers will go on to compete at the NZ Curling Championship in September, the winners having the chance to represent New Zealand in the final Olympic qualifying event in December and the 2022 world championship in April.

- By Shannon Thomson

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