Mixed Doubles 2023/2024.
The 2023/2024 Czech Republic Mixed Pairs Curling Championships concluded this morning. The so-called Mixed Doubles is an Olympic discipline in which we have been performing rather above average in the long term compared to other categories. In addition, the Czech representatives Zuzana and Tomáš Paul managed to bring back the sixth place from the last Olympic Games with the accompanying effect of achieving increased popularity of curling among spectators interested in the sport. Considering that the World Mixed Pairs Championships, to be played in April this year, will already be fought for Olympic points, it was a big deal. This year, for the first time, there were eight pairs in the extra-curricular competition, which meant an increased workload for everyone involved. The winning pair played eleven matches in less than five days, winning eight. It was clearly experience and performance maturity that ultimately decided that after two years of dominance by the junior pair Zelingrová/Chabičovský, the tandem Paulová/Paul returned to the position of national champions. The three scheduled dates for the best of three matches were not needed. After a relatively clear-cut first final match (Monday night), Zuzana and Tomas had stronger nerves at the end of the second, very evenly matched duel. Julie Zelinger's last draw, which could still have sent the rivals into the third match, was a little longer than the opponent's stone placed in the rings. The ice team, led by Jakub Hanák, managed to adjust the ice surface and the stones to a condition that had competition parameters. It is a good sign for Czech curling that four pairs qualified for the final battles, which fall into the junior category. And they took second, fourth, fifth and sixth place. So good luck at the World Championships.