SEOUL TO HOST FIRST IFSC WORLD CUP ON ASIAN SOIL SINCE OCTOBER 2019
The second installment of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup Series 2022 is about to commence in the Olympic city of Seoul, South Korea, where 210 athletes are going to climb their way to the top of the World Cup podium.
A total of 74 climbers – 39 men and 35 women – will battle in the opening act of the competition: the men’s and women’s Speed medal events; while 127 are going to compete in Boulder – 62 men and 65 women.
World record holders Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia and Aleksandra Miroslaw of Poland will both be at the starting blocks, with a field of fierce antagonists that includes USA's John Brosler and Emma Hunt, 2019 IFSC world champion Ludovico Fossali of Italy, and 2021 world champion Natalia Kalucka of Poland.
Following Janja Garnbret’s win in Meiringen, Switzerland, and the Slovenian consequent decision to skip the remainder of the Boulder season, USA's Natalia Grossman became the undisputed favourite for the women’s Boulder gold medal.
In the men’s event, the Japanese representatives are going to be the ones to beat, once again, led by reigning Boulder world champion Fujii Kokoro, Meiringen 2022 gold medallist Narasaki Tomoa, and six-time World Cup medallist Ogata Yoshiyuki.
Climbing in front of a sold-out crowd, the South Korean home team will be headlined by Tokyo 2020 Olympians Chon Jongwon and Seo Chaehyun.
The schedule of the event is as follows:
SCHEDULE (UTC+9:00):
Friday, 6 May:
12:15 PM Speed qualifications
8:00 PM Speed finals
Saturday, 7 May:
9:00 AM Women's Boulder qualification
3:30 PM Men's Boulder qualification
Sunday, 8 May:
11:00 AM Boulder semifinals
5:00 PM Women's Boulder final
Followed by Men's Boulder final
It will be first-ever IFSC World Cup organised in the capital city of South Korea, and the first one on Asian soil since October 2019.
Seoul is also the third city in the country that welcomes an IFSC World Cup event, after Chuncheon and Mokpo organised four Lead and Speed World Cups between 2010 and 2014.
For information about broadcasting and live streaming of the IFSC Boulder and Speed World Cup in Seoul click here. News and updates about the event will also be available on the IFSC website, and on the Federation’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Seo Chaehyun of South Korea competes in the women's Combined final at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Photo: Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC
