IMF East Zone represented by TSAF wins National Sport Climbing Championship

Jamshedpur, January 21: Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) climbers once again showcased their exceptional talent at the 28th National Sport Climbing Championship 2025, held in Bengaluru from January 18 to 21, 2025. Representing the IMF East Zone, TSAF secured the national championship for the fourth consecutive year.

A total of 28 athletes—17 males and 11 females—competed across bouldering, lead, and speed climbing events, bringing home a remarkable 17 medals. In Junior Boys Bouldering, Harpreet Singh Yadav won the Bronze medal. Amar Khandewal secured Silver in Junior Boys Lead, while Suku Singh clinched Gold in both Sub-Junior Boys Bouldering and Lead, with Akash Soren earning Bronze in both events. Additionally, Debasish Mahato claimed Silver in Sub-Junior Boys Lead, and Sangita Tiyu took Silver in Sub-Junior Girls Lead.

In Open Women’s Bouldering, Joga Purty bagged Gold, while Muskan Bandra won Gold in Junior Girls Bouldering. Savitri Samad earned Silver, and Nandani Singh secured Bronze. Sub-Junior Boys Speed saw Akash Soren winning Gold and Sahil Das Silver. Bhoj Birua secured Silver in Junior Boys Speed, while Joga Purty took Gold in Junior Girls Speed, with Muskan Bandra winning Silver. Lastly, Basanti Murmu earned Silver in Sub-Junior Girls Speed.

The combined points total for East Zone, represented by TSAF climbers, was 41, ensuring their victory as national champions. This is the fourth consecutive win for TSAF, having previously secured the title in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Out of the 17 medals won, 16 were claimed by TSAF athletes from Jharkhand, with only one medal coming from OTSAFSCHPC (Odisha Tata Steel Adventure Foundation Sport Climbing High Performance Centre).

Ex-TSAF cadets who competed from other zones also contributed to the medal tally. Aman Verma secured Gold in Open Men’s Bouldering and Silver in Lead. Sachin Saroj earned a Bronze medal in Open Men’s Lead. In the women’s events, Anisha Verma won Gold in Lead and Bronze in Open Women’s Bouldering.

Kumar Gaurav, the climbing coach of TSAF Sport Climbing Academy, guided the IMF East Zone team, while Roshni Bisht served as the manager. Disha Dangat, physiotherapist of TSAF Sport Climbing Academy, also accompanied the team as an official. The championship points system, where each medal contributes to the overall score, ensures the zone with the highest points secures the national trophy.

TSAF continues to play a pivotal role in nurturing and developing top-tier climbers from grassroots to elite levels, inspiring the next generation of sport climbers to achieve excellence.