Curling, Stefania Constantini competing at the World Cup

Curling, Worlds

The 2023 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships open in Gangneung, South Korea, on Saturday, April 22. Also ready to take to the ice at the Gangneung Curling Centre is Italy with the pair formed by Stefania Constantini (Fiamme Oro) and Sebastiano Arman (Fiamme Oro).

Twenty formations are participating in this 15th edition of the rainbow event, divided into two groups of ten teams. The tricolor national team – followed in South Korea by the Italian national team’s technical director Claudio Pescia and coach Violetta Caldart – is placed in Group A along with Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, South Korea, Holland and Scotland.

The top three qualifying teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs. The top-ranked teams from both groups, in particular, will advance directly to the semifinals while the other four teams will cross each other in the qualification games.

Italy is participating with Olympic champion Stefania Constantini and Sebastiano Arman for a tandem capable in last year’s edition of finishing one step away from the playoffs.

“We are coming to these World Championships with a pair that has gained experience in recent months and finished undefeated in the Italian championship, which is particularly competitive this year,” explains Italian coach Claudio Pescia. “Probably with Canada and Scotland Group A is the toughest but we are convinced we can get a good result. The goal is to start strong like last year and then try to reach the playoffs: the boys have great quality and are still on the rise.”