7-member Indian squad hope to scale new heights in Hangzhou
BENGALURU: From competing at the zonal level as a schoolboy in a Spider-Man costume to winning medals for India at the National and international events, Bharath Pereira has come a way long way and is now "super excited" to lead the country's challenge in the boulder + lead competition in sport climbing at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Bengaluru's Spider-Man will compete in his second Asiad after his debut in Jakarta. Asked about his chances, Pereira, a BBA graduate from the St Joseph's College of Commerce, said: "An unrealistic goal would be a podium finish. But a realistic one will be a place in the final," Pereira told TOI.
"It all started back 20 years ago when the climbing wall was inaugurated ahead of the National Climbing competition at the Sree Kanteerava stadium. I was hooked. I even competed once in the full Spider-Man costume in one of the zonal tournaments. Since then, I just went climbing and climbing."
"Sport climbing, which was held for the first time at the Asian Games in 2018, was a little different. I had to compete all three categories as it was a combo of lead, speed and boulder and finished a decent 10th. This time it's going to be a lot harder as it's a combo of lead and boulder with speed being a separate medal event. My strategy is to focus on boulder (India's No.1), get a high rank and to do well in lead," Pereira, who also qualified for the Youth Olympics, said ahead of his departure for Hangzhou.
"I want to make a podium in the World Cups and then the World Championships in the next few years. The Olympics will be a little harder," said Pereira who is supported by GoSports, Dream Foundation and the state government.
Indians face uphill task
"Japan, Korea and Indonesia are the toppers and Indian climbers are still a few years away from the world leaders," said Keerthi Pais, chairman, sport climbing, in the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.
At Asiad competition will be held in speed climbing and lead and boulder. A seven-member team, including four girls, will represent the country. "The squad trained in Bengaluru for two months before sending them to Thailand and Indonesia for exposure. Among the boys, Bharat is the best bet in lead and boulder while Aman Verma is our topper in speed. In girls speed climbing, Anisha from Tata Steel has a better chance," he added.
The speed competition will see climbers race to the top of a 15m wall. While the fastest wins the gold in speed climbing, the lead and boulder combo - with each offering 100 points - will see the competitor with maximum points topping the event.
The athlete who climbs the highest triumphs in lead climbing while in bouldering (15ft wall) the first place goes to the climber who surmounts most boulders in the minimum attempts.
The Asian Games offers no Paris Olympics quota but will come as a good preparation ahead of the Asian qualification event for the 2024 Games.
India squad: Men: Dhiraj Birajdar (Army, speed), Aman Verma (Jharkhand, speed, lead & boulder), Bharath Pereira (Karnataka, lead & boulder). Women: Shivpreet Pannu (Punjab, speed), Anisha Verma (Jharkhand, speed), Saniya Farooque Shaikh (Maharashtra, lead & boulder), Shivani (Jammu and Kashmir, lead and boulder). Coach-cum-manager: Bibhash Roy.
