Chongqing - On October 19, the Asian Youth Climbing Championships – Chongqing (CHN) 2023 ceremoniously commenced at the Chongqing Huayan Gecko King National Rock-Climbing Demonstration Park, situated in the Jiulongpo District.

On October 19, the Asian Youth Climbing Championships – Chongqing (CHN) 2023. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

During the opening ceremony, Li Zhixin, who holds the dual roles of Chairman for both the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA), highlighted that Chongqing is proudly hosting this significant sports event for the third time. "With a track record of successfully organizing the IFSC Climbing World Cup and National Championships on multiple occasions, Chongqing has undeniably played a pivotal role in advancing the sport of rock climbing."

Arena of fierce competition (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

The Asian Youth Climbing Championships, spearheaded by the Asian Council of the IFSC, stands as the pinnacle rock-climbing contest for aspirants aged 14 to 19. This esteemed championship serves as a vital developmental platform, fostering the talents of promising young climbers from across the Asian landscape.

The competition unfolds with unrelenting intensity. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

The championship, inaugurated on October 18, will span five action-packed days, concluding on October 22. This grand event has garnered participation from over 100 athletes spanning 12 countries and regions, encompassing Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and China. Competitors are segregated into men's and women's divisions, further categorized by age brackets: U16 (14-15 years), U18 (16-17 years), and U20 (18-19 years). Each division is set to witness exhilarating displays of athleticism across three climbing disciplines: lead climbing, bouldering, and speed climbing.

The competition at Chongqing Huayan Gecko King National Rock-Climbing Demonstration Park (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

Chongqing proudly hosted the first IFSC Climbing World Cup in 2012, a prestigious event it has successfully sustained for eight consecutive years. 2017 marked the establishment of the Huayan Gecko King National Rock-Climbing Demonstration Park in the Jiulongpo District, a state-of-the-art facility equipped with specialized walls for lead climbing, bouldering, and speed climbing, sprawling across an impressive 1,100 square meters. It holds the distinction of being the most expansive rock-climbing site in Southwest China. Endorsed by the CMA as the country's first national demonstration park dedicated to "Rock Climbing," this premier venue has been the epicenter of numerous large-scale climbing events. In addition, the demonstration park serves as the strategic training hub for the China National Rock-Climbing Team (Chongqing).