NURSAMSA CLAIMS MAIDEN WORLD CUP WIN AS MIROSLAW DOUBLES UP

A night of exciting and close Speed racing in Jakarta ended with yet another Indonesian name on everyone’s lips and a double up in IFSC World Cup 2023 gold medals for a familiar face.

Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw was once again visiting the top step of a Speed podium by taking the women’s title in Jakarta, while on the opposite end of the scale Indonesia’s Raharjati Nursamsa was making his very first trip to the top.

Miroslaw has been the one to beat for a while in the women’s Speed competition, especially after taking gold and four new world records in Seoul last week. Jakarta was another show of strength from the Polish climber, but it could have been so different: “I’m really happy because every competition is different. Different climate. Different challenges. 

“This competition was wet, and it was really warm, so I just tried to focus 100% on my start. The first round of finals was really difficult for me, but then I found my flow and did my job.” 

The first-round difficulty was a slip that nearly cost her an early exit, but keeping her focus, and showing her exceptional speed, to come through only made her more determined.

Miroslaw made it to the gold medal race where she was up against home favourite, Indonesia’s Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi. In a close race Miroslaw prevailed with a 6.43 to Dewi’s 6.52.

That 6.52 for Dewi was however a new Asian women’s record and it gave the Indo climber her highest ever World Cup finish with a silver medal.

There was a tight race for the bronze medal with Poland’s Aleksandra Kalucka beating China’s Lijuan Deng by 0.01 seconds. Kalucka clocked 6.64 to Deng’s 6.65 for her third-place finish.

Women's Speed podium at IFSC World Cup Jakarta 2023
Photo: Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC

Before the men’s finals began the talk was all about new world record holder Veddriq Leonardo and teammate Kiromal Katibin who topped qualification and is himself a former world record holder.

It was another name on the outstanding Indonesian men’s team roster that shone though in front of the home supporters as Raharjati Nursamsa navigated his way to the gold medal race, claiming his first ever IFSC World Cup gold by beating China’s Xinshang Wang.

Nursamsa clocked 5.11 in the tight final to Wang’s 5.14 – but that was enough to give Wang a silver medal and a best ever World Cup finish, upgrading his bronze from Seoul last week.

“I’m very happy and thankful,” said Nursamsa. “I’ve been training really hard for this gold medal. It helps that we have really strong climbers in Indonesia and it gives me great motivation to keep up with them all, and now I have a win to show for my efforts.”

Top qualifier Katibin did manage to secure a bronze medal with a small final win over China’s Peng Wu who had mixed fortunes in the finals series.

Wu fell in the small final, fell in the semi-final, but did take down the world record holder Leonardo in a very tight and electrifying quarter-final when he clocked 5.01 to his rivals 5.03.

The next IFSC World Cup now moves on to Salt Lake City, USA, on 19 to 21 May 2023 with the Boulder and Speed disciplines.

Men's Speed podium at IFSC World Cup Jakarta 2023
Photo: Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC