YOUTH MEDALS ONE STEP CLOSER FOR BOULDER FINALISTS
The first finals line-ups of the 2022 IFSC Youth World Championships were confirmed as the Junior and Youth A climbers returned to the Movement Climbing’s The Hill, Dallas, USA, for semifinals action.
Facing four Boulders each, the 20 semifinalists were whittled down to six to stay in with a shot of a Youth Worlds medal tomorrow.
The Youth B male and female climbers completed their qualification round, on six Boulders, and will contest their semifinals early in the morning.
Top of Boulder qualification:
Youth Male B - Augustine CHI, USA - 6T6z 12 11
Youth Female B - Anastasia SANDERS, USA - 6T6z 7 6
Top of semifinals:
Junior Male - Hannes VAN DUYSEN, BEL - 4T4z 7 6
Junior Female - Zélia AVEZOU, FRA - 2T4z 14 13
Youth Male A - Ritsu KAYOTANI, JPN - 4T4z 8 6
Youth Female A - Sara COPAR, SLO - 3T4z 10 14
Full results at click here
WHAT THEY SAID:
Jessica KNIFSUND, Finland:
“The walls were really fun but I didn’t get the tops and zones I could have. I wouldn’t say I climbed badly but I don’t think I did enough to make the semifinals.
“I’m quite happy because these are new experiences and just being in a World Championships is really cool. It’s only my second year in international competitions so I’m trying to enjoy every experience I can.
“I’m doing Lead as well this week. I’m looking forward to it even though I know I’m not the best Lead climber. I am just here to do all I can and gain experience. It’s my first time in America and this gym. This gym and the Boulders were really cool and fun, and Dallas especially is totally different to home so it’s all about the experience.”
Junta SEKIGUCHI, Japan:
“I’m really happy that I made it through to the finals, I’m just not happy that I took so many attempts at the Boulders. I think if I just enjoy my climbing I can get a podium here.”
Lina FUNA, Slovenia:
“The competition has been crazy. I didn’t expect to be in finals and I just said to myself I will enjoy the round. I didn’t really believe I could make it into the next round as the Boulders were so hard, but I am so happy that I did enough and made it. It’s pretty awesome and the atmosphere is amazing.
“If you had told me last night I would have been in finals I would have laughed at you, but now I’m in the finals I am aiming to win of course. Who wouldn’t want to win the World Championships? I just want to enjoy it though.”
TOMMORROW'S SCHEDULE
Wednesday, 24 August:
9:00 AM Boulder semi-final YB
2:00 PM Boulder final JR
4:45 PM Boulder final YA
News and updates about the events are available on the IFSC website, and on the Federation’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Lina Funa of Slovenia competes in Boulder semifinals at the 2022 Youth World Championships Dallas
Photo: Slobodan Miskovic
