Jamshedpur, July 26, 2021: Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) in association with Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) East Zone is facilitating national qualifying trials of sport climbing athletes from all the zones from 26th to 28th July. This is the first time ever; national trials are being conducted at the sport climbing training center of TSAF in Jamshedpur. The selected athletes will represent the Indian team in the World Youth Championship scheduled in Voronezh, Russia from 21st Aug to 31st Aug 2021.
The trials are being held across all three disciplines and both genders. The age wise categories are Junior, Youth A & Youth B – girls & boys. Initial shortlisting was done on basis of past performance, national ranks and video trials. A total of 24 athletes from across the country are participating in the trials and will compete to represent team India. The trials are being held without audience and with all safety norms including Covid protocol to ensure safety of everyone.
The selected athletes will continue to train at the training center of TSAF and will depart for the competition from Jamshedpur. TSAF has taken this initiative to promote sport climbing in India and provide exposure to Indian athletes and help them prepare for Olympics 2024. Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President Corporate Services, Tata Steel wishes good luck to all the participating athletes and supports TSAF’s initiative to provide exposure and opportunity to the promising athletes. He also lauded TSAF efforts to promote sport climbing in India.
Debraj Dutta, Chairman, IMF East Zone, Hemant Gupta, Head, TSAF and Co- Chairman, IMF East Zone and Bibhas Roy, coach along with IMF & TSAF officials and volunteers are managing the trials.
TSAF has invested heavily, to the tune of crores to develop infrastructure and training center of Sport Climbing in Jamshedpur. TSAF has installed 5 modular climbing walls at rural schools around Jamshedpur to increase the reach and awareness of the sport.
TSAF started developing sport climbing in 2015 and have taken giant leaps over the years. The efforts are already reflecting through the results, it helped win East zone win the national trophy in 2019, 1st time in history of 25 years where TSAF cadets scored 91% of the winning points. Cadets from TSAF training center are amongst the best performing athletes in India, Anisha Verma is the current national record holder in speed climbing in female category, Aman Verma is the 1st climber from India to reach semifinal stage of World Youth Championship a couple of years back. TSAF cadets have won 20 medals at national level while more than 50 at zonal & state level.