China’s mixed doubles wheelchair curling team dramatically clinched gold on Day 5 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, defeating the Republic of Korea in a tense final that went into an extra end.

After eight ends, the gold medal match was tied 7–7, mirroring the equally gripping bronze medal clash between Latvia and the United States, which was also locked at 10–10. In the decisive extra end, China’s Jinqiao Yang and Meng Wang held their nerve to secure a 9–7 victory over Korea’s Hyejin Baek and Yongsuk Lee in the inaugural mixed doubles event at the Winter Paralympics.

Wang, a member of China’s gold-winning team at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics, said the victory was deeply satisfying after a tense finish. She admitted feeling nervous when the Korean pair fought back in the second half but said she managed to regain focus under pressure. With the win, China strengthened its position atop the medals table with 10 gold medals and 26 overall.

Yang, 24, and the youngest athlete in the mixed doubles wheelchair curling tournament, said he only allowed himself to think about the gold medal after the final shot confirmed victory. The Chinese duo had lost just once in the round-robin stage before defeating 2023 world champions Latvia in the semifinal.

In the bronze medal match, Latvia’s Polina Rozkova and Agris Lasmans edged past USA’s Laura Dwyer and Steve Emt 11–10 in another extra-end thriller.