Jakarta( WNAM MONITORING): The Indonesian sport climbing team is poised to make history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and is brimming with optimism about achieving exceptional results and bringing honor to the nation.
Indonesia has secured a full complement of four quotas in both men’s and women’s speed climbing.
The quartet representing Indonesia in Paris includes Veddriq Leonardo, Rahmad Adi Mulyono, Rajiah Sallsabillah, and Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi. They left for the French capital on Saturday morning.
“Our athletes have undergone rigorous training to maximize their technical and physical capabilities,” Hendra Basir, the team’s coach, said in a statement.
The team’s departure marks a historic milestone for Indonesian sport climbing, as the 2024 Olympics signifies the sport’s debut on the grandest stage of global competition.
Sport climbing is among the main sports Indonesia is expecting to win in Paris, considering Desak and her teammates have consistently proven their dominance at international tournaments.
Veddriq held the world record for men’s speed climbing, having clocked an astonishing 4.90 seconds at the IFSC World Cup in Seoul, South Korea, in 2023. However, his record was surpassed by US athlete Samuel Watson, who set a new world record of 4.79 seconds at the Wujiang IFSC World Cup in 2024.
Meanwhile, Desak is reigning as the queen of Asian sport climbing after clinching gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. She secured her Olympic berth after emerging as a world champion at the 2023 IFSC competition in Bern, Switzerland.
“I’m feeling a bit nervous but incredibly excited to start competing in Paris soon. Our preparations have been thorough, and I’m hopeful of winning gold for Indonesia,” Desak said.
Rahmad, who earned his Paris ticket by triumphing at the Asian Qualifier in Jakarta, expressed his readiness to compete at the Olympics. “I’ve poured everything into training and preparation. I’m incredibly optimistic about winning gold for Indonesia,” he said.
The Indonesian sport climbing team will conduct their Olympic campaign from August 4 to 10, 2024.
