The KUNTAI World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2021 begins tomorrow in Beijing, China.

On Oct. 23-28, 2021, the 12 following member associations will compete for the Championship title: China, RCF, Norway, Korea, Scotland, Canada, Slovakia, Sweden, Latvia, Italy, United States, and Switzerland.

In addition to a World Championship, qualification for the 2022 Paralympic Games is at stake as the Championship will serve as an opportunity for teams to earn Paralympic Qualification Points.

At the conclusion of the 2021 World Championship, the field for the 2022 Paralympic Games will be set as the 11 teams will the most points from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 World Championships will qualify for the Games. To round out the 12-team field at the 2022 Games, China earns a direct qualification as the host country.

Team USA , consisting of Matt Thums (Weston, Wis.), Steve Emt (Hebron, Conn.), David Samsa (Green Bay, Wis.), Pam Wilson (Denver, Colo.), and Bat-Oyun “Oyuna” Uranchimeg (Burnsville, Minn.), are one of the teams that will be competing for a Paralympic qualification and has been preparing for this moment since qualifying for the 2021 World Wheelchair Curling Championship after winning gold at the 2021 World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship in April.

Based on the current standings, the United States can secure a berth to the 2022 Games by achieving either of the following scenarios:

1. Finishing ahead of Italy

2. OR finishing in seventh place or higher

“The team is confident that all the hard work that they have put into improving the past year with get them in to medal contention this week and earn them a qualification to the Paralympics,” said Wheelchair National Team Director Pete Annis.

Despite the what’s at stake, Team USA is continuing to stick to the same game plan that has brought them this far on the Road to 2022.

“One stone at a time, one game at a time, one day at a time,” said Uranchimeg.

To open their Championship, Team USA will face Canada on Oct. 23.

USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People, and United Airlines.