Jamshedpur, Oct 12 (IBNS): The Eighteenth East Zone Sport Climbing competition got off to a fine start with as many as 83 competitors from different east zone states taking their claims for the top spots at the artificial climbing wall of the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) in J R D Tata Sport Complex here on Friday.
Giving details of the championship, Secretary of Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF)- East Zone Committee, Mrinal Chatterjee, informed that the competition is being held in three categories, speed, lead and bouldering for three groups, senior, junior, and sub-junior, both for men and women.
Earlier welcoming the participants, Manik Banerjee, Chairman of the IMF-East Zone committee, the organisor of the meet said the championship has assumed a greater importance this time as those who will do well here will be selected for the National Sport Climbing meet to be held in New Delhi in Nov.
Banerjee also praised the Tata Steel Sport Foundation for coming forward to host the competition this time.
He specially complimented TSAF Chief Advisor Bachendri Pal who is the first Indian woman to climb world’s highest mountain Mt. Everest way back in 1984 and TSAF Manager P P Kapadia for their support to make the venture a big success.
Speaking on the occasion, Kapadia urged the participants to take full advantage of the faculties available at the JRD Sports Complex.
Various mountaineering dignitaries, including former Principal of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute of Darjeeling Col.(Retd.) Amit Roy, veteran climber Amuly Sen and former president and secretary of the IMF- East Zone Committee Ujjwal Ganguly and Kankan Roy, were present at the inaugural function.
