AICHI-NAGOYA: India's Deepu Mallesh produced a record-breaking run in the men's speed climbing qualification at the Asian Games, bettering his own national record four times to book a place in the quarterfinals.
The 28-year-old, competing at his first Asian Games, clocked a best time of 5.09 seconds on lane B of the four-lane, 15-metre wall to finish 11th among the 16 qualifiers. His previous national record of 5.39 seconds had been set in April during the Asian Championships.
How the format works
The 16 fastest climbers were split into four quarterfinal heats. The fastest eight from that stage advance to the semifinals, from which four will contest the medal races.
Mallesh's qualification run underlined India's growing presence in a sport that joined the Asian Games only in 2018 and became an Olympic event at Tokyo 2020. India has never won a sport climbing medal at the Asian Games.
In the women's competition, 19-year-old Joga Purty also reached the quarterfinals after finishing ninth in qualification, but a false start in her heat ended her campaign.
Sources: India's Double Boost At Asian Games: Sumit Nagal Advances, Deepu Mallesh Breaks New Ground — NDTV Sports
The 28-year-old, competing at his first Asian Games, clocked a best time of 5.09 seconds on lane B of the four-lane, 15-metre wall to finish 11th among the 16 qualifiers. His previous national record of 5.39 seconds had been set in April during the Asian Championships.
How the format works
The 16 fastest climbers were split into four quarterfinal heats. The fastest eight from that stage advance to the semifinals, from which four will contest the medal races.
Mallesh's qualification run underlined India's growing presence in a sport that joined the Asian Games only in 2018 and became an Olympic event at Tokyo 2020. India has never won a sport climbing medal at the Asian Games.
In the women's competition, 19-year-old Joga Purty also reached the quarterfinals after finishing ninth in qualification, but a false start in her heat ended her campaign.
Sources: India's Double Boost At Asian Games: Sumit Nagal Advances, Deepu Mallesh Breaks New Ground — NDTV Sports
