PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 8: The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Asia in association with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) and Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) is organising the Asian Kids Sport Climbing Championship 2022 – a three-day extravaganza from December 8 to 11 at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Bistupur.
Athletes from 10 Asian countries viz., South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, China and India will be a part of this mega championship.
Technical delegates and officials from Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia have already reached Jamshedpur.
Route setting for the bouldering and lead events has already started. The climbing arena is all geared up to host its first international championship.
TSAF previously organised a two-day selection trial for Indian athletes on November 17 and 18, for this championship at the same venue.
More than 45 athletes from across the country have been selected to represent the Indian contingent. They went through a three-week National Training Camp in a preparation for this event.
Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, will grace the opening ceremony to be held today, from 7 pm to 8 pm, as the chief guest.
All the participating athletes, delegates, officials and volunteers will be present. The ceremony is open to everyone who wants to witness it live.
The participants are divided into two groups -Youth D in the age group of 10-11 years and Youth C in the age group of 12-13 years. The winners will be facilitated on December 11 during the closing ceremony.
A number of athletes, both male and female, from the community development centres of Tata Steel, Masti ki Paathshaala, are also participating in this event. Three of the incumbent cadets from the residential TSAF Sport Climbing Academy are a part of the championship.
School students have also been invited to view this event. Fun activities like hitting the bull’s eye, and balancing coins on their thighs will be arranged and gifts will be given to the winners.
The event will be streamed live on YouTube and the Facebook page of TSAF.
