IFSC Asian Qualifier: Deng Lijuan and Rahmad Adi Mulyono sprint to speed titles and Olympic quotas
The People's Republic of China's Deng Lijuan continued her good run of form by claiming the women's speed title with Rahmad Adi Mulyono winning an all-Indonesian men's final.
Deng Lijuan of the People's Republic of China continued her stellar run of form by winning the women’s speed title at the IFSC Asian Qualifier 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday (12 November).
She obtained a Paris 2024 Olympic quota* for her nation, as did Rahmad Adi Mulyono who won an all-Indonesian men's final against Katibin Kiromal.
Chinese sport climbing star Deng has been in blistering form in recent weeks, winning the final World Cup event of the season on home soil at the end of September before bagging silver at last month's Asian Games.
Deng had no easy passage to the top of the podium with the Republic of Korea’s Jeong Jimin coming close to upsetting the favourite in the final. Jeong took a surprising lead before a costly slip at the halfway mark allowed Deng to claim victory in 6.98 seconds to 8.46.
In the small final, Rajiah Sallsabillah claimed the last spot on the podium by beating fellow Indonesian Amanda Narda Mutia.
"I am so excited right now. This was the final race for the Olympic quota so I was a bit nervous but I managed to win it," Deng told the IFSC afterwards.
"I would like to thank my great country for supporting me to come here. I am not too concerned about the other climbers, I just focus on my performance and what I should do. And finally, I did it."
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority to decide the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris 2024 depend on their NOC selecting them for their delegations.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
Rahmad Adi Mulyono crowned speed king in Jakarta
The home crowd was treated to an all-Indonesian men’s final that would guarantee the nation an Olympic quota for Paris 2024.
Adi Mulyono was consistently the fastest man throughout the knock-out rounds including a sub-five seconds win over world record-holder and compatriot Veddriq Leonardo in the quarter-finals.
In the final, Kiromal slipped and fell to give Adi Mulyono easy passage to the top of the podium in a time of 5.35. Japan’s Ryo Omasa rounded out the podium, beating Peng Wu in the small final.
"I am thrilled! I am also very happy and proud of the team that we will have a representative at the Olympics," Adi Mulyono said.