IFSC Climbing World Cup kicks off in Xiamen

IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen, kicking off on Oct 14, has attracted more than 130 elite athletes from 23 countries and regions and will determine the season champions in speed.

Iuliia Kaplina of Russia won the season title in women speed over Anouck Jaubert of France last year. Kaplina got the upper hand at IFSC World Cup Wujiang last weekend. The win from either elite athlete in Xiamen will seal the seasonal victory. Kaplina's teammate Mariia Krasavina has already secured the third spot on the season podium.

In the men's field, Vladislav Deulin of Russia will possibly finish in first or second place on the season podium in speed. His compatriots Aleksandr Shikov, winner at Wujiang, and Stanislav Kokorin can stand alongside him by the end of the season, as well as world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar of Iran and Italian athletes Ludovico Fossali and Leonardo Gontero.

Reigning season champion of women combined Janja Garnbret of Slovenia defended this title in Wujiang, clinching the season title in the combined. The 18-year-old Garnbret has already recorded the most combined points in a single season in the IFSC history, and there are still two lead events remaining.

Kim Jain of South Korea, Anak Verhoeven of Belgium, Jessica Pilz of Austria and Julia Chanourdie of France are competing for second place.

Stefano Ghisolfi of Italy improved his position in the men's lead world rankings by closing out the climbing in Wujiang with a thrilling top. Romain Desgranges of France has already guaranteed a spot on the season podium and may even clinch the season title in lead by placing the second in Xiamen. Several athletes are competing for the second and third places, including reigning season champion Domen Skofic of Slovenia.

Due to rain, the Xiamen event only held lead qualifications on Saturday and postponed the lead semi-finals to Oct 15 when the lead finals and all the speed competitions were set.