Thirroul wheelchair curler James Powell remains optimistic about the future of his sport despite his team's disappointing result at the Asia Wheelchair Curling Championship in Seoul.

The event was staged in Icheon, South Korea from November 11 to 15.

James and his three new teammates had limited time to train together before the competition and they eventually finished fifth.

Despite the result, James said he'd enjoyed his time in Seoul.

“It was great to meet the new members and I felt this competition was friendly,” James said.

Although the Aussie side didn’t get to compete in the Olympic venue as they did last year, James appreciated the chance to play in a top-quality facility, comparing it to Canberra's Australian Institute of Sport.

With five teams competing in the championship this year, James said he hoped participation would continue to grow, bolstering the competition for years to come.

“It would be nice to see more Asian teams in competitions like this,” he said.

“It will help build up curling in the region.”

With the Australian curling season scheduled to resume in February 2025, James plans to connect with other clubs for more competitive opportunities and is considering a two-week training trip to Japan.

“I’ll just continue playing my lawn bowls for now at Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club."