Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand): The country's first indoor sports climbing centre has come up at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM). The facility has been constructed on par with international standards and Olympic Sport Climbing. Many climbers from the north zone have already taken part in the three-day training under the first phase.
It is known that 'Sport Climbing' made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 in three disciplines: Speed, Bouldering and Lead. Officials at NIM say that those undergoing training in the sport will take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Sourav Rautela, a sports climbing instructor at NIM said that a 15 meters high wall has been built that matches the standards of the International Federation of Sports Climbing. "We hope that more and more players will come forward and train in the sport and win a medal for the nation. There are three aspects in the sport which include lead, bouldering and speed climbing," Rautela said, adding that two walls have been prepared for training purposes.
Principal of NIM Colonel Amit Bisht says that with the inclusion of 'Sports Climbing' in the Olympics, there is an interest among the youth towards the sport.
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Shivani Chadak who hails from Jammu, and is undergoing training in sports climbing at the NIM, says that a new platform has been prepared for sports climbing, apart from giving a new dimension for the players of the country. "Having won a medal at the Asian level in sports climbing. NIM has given me and other sportspersons a meaningful platform to prepare for the Olympics," Shivani added.
