Manila: The Philippines is set to participate in the ASEAN Climbing Championships scheduled from July 4 to 6 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The event, organized by the Malaysia Mountaineering Federation, will feature top climbers from the region competing in lead, boulder, and speed disciplines.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine team, which is set to depart on Thursday, includes athletes John Veloria, Yca Dizon, Ylo Dizon, Pets Suson, Liana Mora, Iman Mora, Jo Ala, Gianna Quintela, Gerardo Acebedo, Lissa Vidal, Johnny Forones, and Ninio Tabanao. Yca Dizon will compete in all three disciplines; Johnny Forones will participate in boulder and speed, while Gerardo Acebedo is entered in speed. The remaining team members will compete in lead and boulder events.
Alberto Agra, president of Pilipinas Climbing, Inc. (PCI), expressed the team's ambitions at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex conference hall. Agra emphasized the team's goal of not just participating, but aiming for gold. PCI, already recognized by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFCP), is seeking regular membership in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Following the competition in Malaysia, the Filipino climbers are scheduled to attend a boot camp in Singapore next month. PCI auditor Ina Pahati, who previously secured a boulder gold at the 2011 Indonesia SEA Games, highlighted the importance of using the ASEAN Climbing Championships to assess the athletes' skills in preparation for the SEA Games in Thailand in December.
Franz Lim, chair of PCI, expressed the aim to elevate the sport to a world-class level and make it accessible to everyone, including differently-abled individuals. Agra noted the challenge of sustainability and emphasized the need for POC membership and PSC funding to support the sport's growth.
Sport climbing, included in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, involves competitive climbing on artificial structures. It is divided into three events: speed, lead, and bouldering. There are currently 24 climbing gyms across the Philippines, according to Agra.
