CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - Japan's wheelchair curling mixed doubles team opened the country's campaign at the Milan Cortina Paralympics on Wednesday, ahead of the official start of the international sporting event later this week.

Aki Ogawa, 50, and Yoji Nakajima, 61, lost 10-3 to China in their opening round-robin match after surrendering an early lead and allowing their opponents to steadily extend the margin.

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