Rock climbing: Alpine club to send team to China

Secretary Sadiq finalising players for Asian Championship

KARACHI: The Alpine Club of Pakistan is expected to send its rock climbing team to the Asian Continental Sports Climbing Championship, which begins from June 19 in Nighbo, China.

According to club secretary Abu Zafar Sadiq, the competition in China is always tough but will be even more so this time as several Pakistani climbers who have previously competed internationally will be absent.

“It’s not easy to compete in this championship. We have sent our climbers a couple of times before, but they have not fared too well,” Sadiq told The Express Tribune.

“The ones who competed at the climbing championship previously are away. One of them actually went missing at the Sarwali Peak last year, another one is abroad, while some climbers have quit the sport altogether,” said Sadiq.



But the lack of experience wouldn’t keep Sadiq from sending a team out, and he is currently busy assembling a new group of players.

“The squad is not finalised yet, but we have found the climbers,” he added.

He further said that rock climbing requires its athletes to be extremely fit, which is why Pakistani participants struggle. But since the team will train in Nighbo, Sadiq remains optimistic.

“We don’t have the facilities for rock climbing but China is way ahead. They even have international rock climbing champions, so the training will help,” explained Sadiq.

The championship will be the first international competition for Pakistani rock climbers this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.