By Daniel Etchells

Aileen Neilson captained Great Britain's curling team to a bronze medal at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games ©Getty ImagesParalympic bronze medallist Aileen Neilson is one of five athletes selected by the Royal Caledonian Curling Club to compete for Scotland at the 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Lohja, Finland.

Neilson, who recently announced her intention to extend her career break from teaching to pursue more glory with Scotland's wheelchair curling team, is joined on the team by Gregor Ewan, Jim Gault, Angie Malone and Hugh Nibloe for the event due to take place from February 6 to 13. 

The team, chosen by the governing body for curling in Scotland, are scheduled to compete at the British Open in Hamilton between January 18 and 20 in their final competition before the World Championship.

"There has been growing competition for places in the Scottish team for the 2015 World Championships and every player has had to work hard to be selected," said head coach Tony Zummack.

"We are all looking forward to the competition, which marks the start of the qualification process to Pyeongchang [the 2018 Winter Olympic Games].

"I know how much it means to every player to represent Scotland."

Earlier this year, Neilson hinted she may consider retiring from the top level having captained Great Britain's team to a Paralympic bronze medal at Sochi 2014, alongside Ewan, Gault, Malone and Bob McPherson.

The 43-year-old initially took three years out from her role at Bent Primary School in Lesmahagow to prepare for the Games but now intends to extend her career break by a further two years.

Aileen Neilson (left) and her Paralympic teammates have just returned from a tour of North America in preparation for next year's World Championship ©Getty ImagesAileen Neilson (left) and her Paralympic teammates have just returned from a tour of North America in preparation for next year's World Championship ©Getty Images



"When I returned from Sochi I thought hard about my future and I made the decision to extend my three year career break for a further two years," Neilson told the Scottish Daily Record.

"My target now is to commit to the programme fully for two years, be selected for the Worlds and gain as many points as possible towards our journey to the 2018 Paralympic Games in South Korea.

"The maximum South Lanarkshire Council will allow anyone to take for a career break is five years, so I will have a big decision to make when these next two years are over.

"I love teaching but I also love curling, so I'm fortunate to have a full-time job I can go back to."

Neilson and her Paralympic teammates - Ewan, Gault, Malone and Robert McPherson - have just returned from a tour of North America where they have been preparing for next year's World Championship.

The squad lost 8-7 to Russia in the final of the Canadian Open in Vancouver before going on to win silver medals at the Cathy Kerr International Bonspiel in Ottowa and the US Open in New York.

"To come back with three silver medals is fantastic preparation for what lies ahead," said Neilson.

"We need to be playing against the teams who will play at the worlds, so it was worth all the travelling."

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January 2014: Lohja to host 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championships