The Chinese wheelchair curling team has been voted the Allianz Best Team of the Month for March after winning the country’s first Paralympic Winter Games medal ever at PyeongChang 2018. They received an overwhelming 56 percent of the public votes with the Canadian open relay team in second 25 percent. The South Korean and US Para ice hockey, and Norwegian wheelchair curling teams, were also shortlisted.

The Beijing 2022 hosts made history after defeating Norway 6-5 in the final following an extra end, recording an outstanding win-loss figure of 9-2 in the round robin and taking the country’s first gold medal in the sport. This was also the first time a country other than Canada has won gold in Paralympic wheelchair curling since the sport was first introduced at Turin games in 2006. 

The nominations for the award was compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees as well as International Federations. And China’s wheelchair curling skip Wang Haitong told CGTN Digital that the reaction has been overwhelming: “It’s a great honor as this is a title from IPC, it means many people in the Paralympic community recognized our achievement. My family and friends stay congratulated me.”

Although Beijing 2022 is on the horizon, Wang is looking forward to taking a well-deserved break from training: "I will take a short vacation and start training with my provincial team one or two months later. Meanwhile I am a student of Harbin Institute of Physical Education, I will continue my study." The national team will start training after the national games in July, from which the players will be selected.

Currently there are eight provincial wheelchair curling teams set up in the country with the aim of future development, and Yong Zhijun, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Paralympic Committee, believes the team’s success can continue to grow, not just wheelchair curling but para sports in general.

"It means that our effort for the last ten years has started to show the outcomes. Wheelchair curling is one of the sports that was started early in China besides cross-country ski,” he told CGTN Digital. “Since the success of Beijing winning the bid for 2022 Paralympic Games, the Chinese winter para sports has entered in to the fast lane of development, while policy and funding are in place, social atmosphere is getting richer for the sports."

The award is yet another boost for China as preparations for the next Winter Paralympics begin to gather momentum. New initiatives are being implemented across the board, both at a grassroots level as well as professional, and with all 26 venues for the Games already under construction or refurnishing.

"It lays a good foundation for China, because of the historical achievement, more attention will be addressed to Paralympic sports, from the policy-making level to ordinary people, and with the attention the work will be getting better and better," Yong added. "It will lead the development of winter para sports in China to 2022 Paralympic Games. At the same time, more people with disabilities will be inspired and attracted to take part and enjoy winter sports."

The IPC's prize for March, sponsored by Allianz, was separated into three different categories – Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete and Best Team – based on the performances at PyeongChang 2018.

Russia's Neutral Paralympic Athlete Ekaterina Rumyantseva was named Best Female Athlete of the Month recently after she won three gold medals at PyeongChang 2018. While Canada's Brian McKeever took the men's award after he became the most successful Paralympic cross-country skier in history following his hat-trick of successes at the South Korean games.