Shanghai steps up integration into int'l climbing competition system via hosting top events

China

Shanghai steps up integration into int'l climbing competition system via hosting top events

2026-09-06 17:08 Last Updated At：21:27

Shanghai is stepping up its role in the international climbing calendar through hosting top climbing events.

The Belt and Road International Climbing Master Tournament, held alongside the Chinese Climbing League's Shanghai stop, runs from Friday through Sunday at Shanghai's Xujiahui Sports Park, attracting nearly 200 athletes from around the world.

On Saturday morning, a speed relay race took place at the park's competition site where teams fielded two climbers across four lanes. Athletes sprinted up the 15-meter route to hit the top timer before their teammates launched in quick succession.

Weekend sessions of the competitions have been scheduled for morning, afternoon and evening, with morning rounds open to the public free of charge.

"I think events like this one allow more people to watch high-level competitions, helping them better understand sport climbing while offering an access to this sport for the children who are interested said a spectator.

The Belt and Road International Climbing Master Tournament features men's and women's speed events, speed relay and mixed speed relay. Host nation China fielded four male and four female athletes. Running at the same time period, the Chinese Climbing League is positioned as a platform to develop emerging talents and raise competitive capabilities.

These two major events have served as a key competitive warm-up ahead of the upcoming Asian Games

"This is my competition to prepare me for the Asian Games. So, this is very important for me," said Ezell Low Qing Wei, a sport climbing athlete with Team Singapore.

In Friday evening's men's event within the Belt and Road International Climbing Master Tournament, Chinese climber Ling Yongzhi won gold with 4.69 seconds, placing him among the limited number of speed specialists worldwide to break the 4.70-second barrier.

Japan's Ryo Omasa took silver in 4.80 seconds, while China's Zhou Ziyu won bronze.

In the women's competition, Elizaveta Ivanova, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, claimed the title, with China's Zhang Shaoqin and Mou Yuju taking silver and bronze.

Since its inclusion in the Olympic Games, this once-niche sport has seen a massive surge in popularity across Shanghai. The city now boasts over 120 climbing gyms. Hosting these major international tournaments is seen as a vital step in further popularizing the sport in the city.

International media visit mudslide-hit Gyirong Port

International media on Saturday and Sunday visited the core disaster area of mudslide-hit Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

The reporters from the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Brazil among other countries and regions visited the area and learned about the disaster situation, ongoing rescue operations, and progress in recovery and reconstruction.

"China has this particular the capacity to address this kind of crisis. You have thousands of workers trained for this and you have machines made for this kind of efforts. And of course, our heart goes to them for the kind of work they are putting," said KJM Varma Mokanda, a reporter from Press Trust of India.

The mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal on Aug 26, had left 43 people dead and 519 others missing at the border port as of 18:00 Saturday, the emergency response and rescue headquarters told a press conference on Sunday.

As of 18:00 Saturday, more than 2,500 people and over 500 vehicles had been deployed for the rescue, and more than 1,000 flights of drones had air-dropped 5.43 tons of supplies, officials said at the press conference.