Sport Climbing 18th Asian Games Jakarta Palembang 2018

18th  Asian Games Jakarta

Palembang 2018

Indonesia Win first Gold In Sport Climbing

In

Asian Games 2018

Antara/Palembang/ Jakarta

Indonesia won the first gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games sport climbing category through Aries Rahayu Susanti in the women’s speed event on Thursday. Aries Rahayu recorded a time of 7.61 seconds in the final, defeating her compatriot Puji Lestari who scored 7.98 seconds.

Despite being the best, Aries Rahayu's achievement was less than the record of 7.51 seconds she set at the World Championship series in Chongqing, China, last May. 

The meeting of the two Indonesian climbers, an all-Indonesia final, was by cheered on by supporters at the rock climbing venue in Jakabaring Sport City.

As expected, 23-year-old Aries Rahayu beat Song Yiling from China in the semifinals by booking 7.68 seconds, while the opponent booked 7.80 seconds.

The time to determine whether Indonesia could have two climbers in the final finally arrived when Puji Lestari faced He Cuilian from China in the semifinals.

Cheerful spectators wanted Puji to qualify for the final and meet Aries Rahayu, and sure enough Puji finished the Cuilian fight by recording a time of 7.84 seconds, while the opponent recorded 7.94 seconds.

Hundreds of spectators in the stands cheered as the gold medal would be awarded to Indonesia, which at the same time was the first gold medal for Indonesia in Palembang, cohosts of the 2018 Asian Games along with Jakarta.

"I tried to control myself, even though this was far from my time, but I was very grateful and thank you for the support," Aries Rahayu said shortly after celebrating her victory, greeting the audience and her colleagues while slinging the Indonesian flag on her shoulders.

In the women’s speed climbing category, China’s He Cuilian was placed third with a 7.97 second time to beat compatriot Song Yiling at 8.20 seconds.

Indonesia’s success in women's climbing, however, was not reflected in the men's events.

There was almost an all Indonesian final in the men’s speed category, but both Sobri and Aspar Jaelolo failed in the semifinals. Aspar Jaelolo lost to Chinese climber Zhong Qixin who was one second faster than him – Aspar with 5.65 seconds and Zhong 5.64 seconds. "Yes, I was shocked. He moved ahead of me, so I followed," said Aspar.

Likewise, Sabri, who made a false start, was defeated by Alipour Shenazanadi Fard Reza of IR Iran, the world record holder.

Aspar and Sobri met in the race for third place, but again Sabri made a mistake at the start, with Aspar winning bronze.

In the end, Indonesia collected 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.

There is still hope for another medal for Indonesia in the mens’s and women’s combined  category, with the preliminary round beginning on Friday (Aug. 24).