Cruel medal defeat for Bruce Mouat and Gina Aitken

Murrayfield curlers Gina Aitken and Bruce Mouat finished in the cruellest place of all after losing the bronze medal play-off match at the Mixed Doubles World Championship in Karlstad, Sweden, but there was some consolation for them as they walked away with nine precious Olympic qualifying points.
Bruce Mouat's next stop is Edmonton. Pic: TSPLBruce Mouat's next stop is Edmonton. Pic: TSPL
Bruce Mouat's next stop is Edmonton. Pic: TSPL

A top-eight finish had been their pre-tournament goal, and they achieved that the hard way, scoring three 6-5 wins in a row and beating the reigning champions and title favourites from Hungary to reach the last four.

China’s Rui Wang and Dexin Ba ended their miraculous run 7-5 in the semi-finals before US pair Tabitha Peterson and Joe Polo edged the third-place play-off 9-7 to leave the Scots without a medal but with their heads held high.

Mouat is now on his way to compete in the end-of-season Champions Cup in Edmonton after receiving a special invitation following his victory at last month’s World Junior 
Championship in Copenhagen.