3rd World Cup in Lead Climbing

Mina Markovič silver at the third World Cup in lead climbing 2013

Today, September 21, 2013, the third Lead World Cup event of the International Federation of Sport Climbing IFSC concluded in Puurs, Belgium, where the Slovenian national climbing team also competed and achieved a new success with Mina Markovič's silver. Mina is defending her double consecutive overall World Cup title in lead and combined this year.



Slovenian competitors, after the European Championship in lead where Mina Markovič took the title of European runner-up, after the first IFSC World Cup 2013 in lead climbing in Briançon, France, where Mina was silver, after Mina's victory in lead at the World Games in Cali (Colombia) – Olympic Games for non-Olympic sports – and Mina's victories at the second World Cup in lead in Imst, Austria, and at the Rock Master in Arc, Mina's title of European runner-up in bouldering, competed at the THIRD World Cup in lead climbing IFSC 2013 in Puurs (Belgium). The Slovenian colors were represented by: Mina Markovič, Tina Šušteršič, Domen Škofic, Klemen Bečan, and Jure Raztresen.



All representatives qualified for today's semifinals, specifically achieving the following results in Friday's qualifiers: in women's competition: 3rd Mina Markovič, 23rd Tina Šušteršič, among men Domen Škofic shared first place with 8 other competitors, 12th was Jure Raztresen who showed good climbing again, 18th Klemen Bečan.

In the semifinals, they achieved the following results: 3rd Mina Markovič and 8th Domen Škofic, who qualified for the final; the competition ended with the following placements: 21st Tina Šušteršič, 13th Klemen Bečan, and 15th Jure Raztresen.

In the final, Mina climbed the route to the top, but the top did not count because she ran out of time. However, the top was reached with fluid climbing by Korean Jain Kim, who after third place at the World Cup in Imst, now recorded a victory. Japanese Momoka Oda (second in Imst) climbed to third place. As it currently appears, the trio – Mina, Jain, Momoka – is currently the strongest in the World Cup lead.



In the overall World Cup standings, Markovič is now in second place with 260 points, just 5 points behind Kim (265), third is still Frenchwoman Helene Janicot (163), who was seventh in the competition.

In the Nations Cup in lead, Slovenia is currently fourth (364 points), ahead only teams from France, Japan, and Austria.



STATEMENT:

25-year-old Mina Markovič said about her new success at the very endurance-demanding competition: "Behind us is again a seemingly high wall with long routes. After Arc, this is a new ultra-endurance test, but I think I showed that my endurance is at a high level and I succeed excellently in combining it with form."



About the climbing itself, the silver medalist from Ptuj said: "In qualifiers, I ran out of time, but I thought I could handle it confidently in semis and final, as there are 8 minutes available for the route. In semis, I allowed a small mistake at the end, although I climbed to the end very relaxed. Nevertheless, it was enough for qualification to the final. I am very happy that I reached the top in the final; however, I am not satisfied with my climbing, which was not fluid, and through the final route I allowed too many complicated combinations. So at the end of the final route, I ran out of time and even though I reached the top, it of course did not count for me (height achieved counted: 50). Jain deservedly won, she showed really nice, fluid climbing on the final route. Here in Puurs, I haven't managed to step on the highest podium yet, but that gives me all the motivation to do it next year."



About the continuation of the season, she added: "Next week I have the opportunity to show excellent form again; a lot depends on daily form. This time, the competition is in Russia, in the city of Perm, from September 27 to 29."

In Perm, the Slovenian national team plans to compete in the following lineup under the leadership of coach Roman Krajnik: Mina Markovič, Maja Vidmar, Tina Šušteršič, Domen Škofic, and Klemen Bečan.



RESULTS (Source: IFSC)

Women (total competitors: 38)

1. Jain Kim, KOR

2. Mina Markovič, SLO

3. Momoka ODA, JAP

…

21. Tina Šušteršič, SLO

Men (total competitors: 51)

1. Jakob Schubert, AVT

2. Sachi AMMA, JAP

3. Sean McColl, KAN

…

9. Domen Škofic, SLO

13. Klemen Bečan, SLO

15. Jure Raztresen, SLO



Spectators and fans could watch the World Cup live via the website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing IFSC.



IFSC WORLD CUP 2013 – LEAD

19–20. 7. Briancon (France)

9.–10. 8. Imst (Austria)

20.–21. 9. Puurs (Belgium)

27.–29. 9. Perm (Russia) 12.–13. 10. Wujiang (China)

19.–20. 10. Mokpo (Korea)

1.–2. 11. Valence (France)

16.–17. 11. Kranj (Slovenia) - finale