SPORTS REPORTER
JAMMU: The Fourth Junior North Zone Sport Climbing (boys and girls) Championship, which was earlier postponed, shall now be conducted by Mountaineering Association of J and K at Sprawling Buds School, Chinore, here from 26th March.
About 200 climbers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand besides the host J and K are expected to participate in this two-day championship.
“Since it is a Junior Zonal Championship only those climbers, both boys and girls, born in 2000, 2001 and 2002 are eligible to compete in the competitions which shall be conducted both in Lead and Speed Climbing,” General Secretary of the Association, Ram Khajuria told.
However, to give exposure to budding climbers of the State the organisers have now also included the Sub Junior category, both for boys and girls (born in 2003, 2004 and after), for lead climbing only. The competitions shall be conducted strictly as per IFSC rules and only fresh international standard climbing equipment shall be used.
“The championship carries total prize money of Rs 40,000 which shall be distributed equally between boys and girls. Almost all the prominent North Zone climbers including national medalists are likely to participate in the competition and a keen tussle is on the cards in all the categories,” he informed.
The J and K challenge shall be spearheaded by Shivani Charak and Aman Dogra, both national speed climbing champions, and the team with very talented climbers including Shilpa Charak, Mrityunjay Sharma, Ajay Deep and Nitya Sharma is likely to give a creditable performance.
Whereas the specialised equipment is to be arranged by Mountaineering Association of J and K, the Indian Mountaineering Foundation North Zone Committee shall provide adequate technical support. While Mitra Ghosh, a national Judge in Sport Climbing shall be the President of Jury the other judges are Amit Sharma from Delhi and Shawetica Khajuria, both National Judges.
Paras Verma, a national Route Setter shall head the team of experienced route setters and Ganesh Singh, a national Belayer shall be the Chief Belayer of the competition. The national technical officials shall be assisted by local technical officials and senior climbers.
The Chairman IMF North Zone Committee, S. Bhattacharjee has also confirmed his availability during the competition. This championship is being organised by Mountaineering Association of J and K under the aegis of Indian Mountaineering Foundation North Zone Committee and sponsored by J and K State Sports Council.
