Seo Chae-hyun looks for more silverware at ISFC World Cup

Seo Chae-hyun competes during the sports climbing national squad selection contest at Gangnam Sports Climbing Center in Gangnam District, southern Seoul on April 9. [NEWS1]

The International Federation of Sports Climbing (ISFC) World Cup starts in Jungnang District, eastern Seoul on Friday with former world champion Seo Chae-hyun competing for Korea.

Seo previously won multiple gold medals at international events, including two golds in the 2019 Asia Championships — one in lead and the other in bouldering — and one gold in lead at the 2021 World Championships. She was also the winner of the 2019 World Cup in the lead discipline.

Sport climbing is a sport in which climbers compete in three disciplines: Speed, bouldering and lead.

In speed, athletes compete to climb an identical 15-meter (50-foot) wall set at an angle of 95 degrees faster than their opponents.

In bouldering, athletes climb different routes without ropes within four minutes. The routes vary in difficulty and athletes do not get to see them in advance.

In lead, athletes attempt to climb as high as they can on a 15-meter wall within six minutes.

Seo has always been far more confident in lead and bouldering than speed, causing her issues at some events like the Olympics where the disciplines are combined.

The 19-year-old will be competing against some prominent climbers including Yoshiyuki Ogata of Japan, who won the 2021 and 2022 World Cup in bouldering.

Miho Nonaka, also of Japan, who won silver at the 2020 Olympics, is also joining the World Cup this year.

The World Cup starts on Friday with the speed discipline, which will be open to the public free of charge.

Saturday’s bouldering qualification and Sunday’s bouldering semifinals and final will be open to those with tickets. The events will be broadcast through the ISFC’s official YouTube channel.

The World Cup will take place at Jungnang Sport Climbing Stadium in Jungnang District, eastern Seoul.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]