Top Korean female climber Sa Sol feels the Hong Kong heat at inaugural bouldering cup

Bouldering heart-throb and world number 11 Sa Sol dazzled under the Hong Kong sunshine at the city’s inaugural Asian Bouldering Cup 2018 but did not achieve what she came here for: top spot.

“I really wanted to win,” chuckled the 23-year-old South Korean fan favourite, who finished second in the final after a stellar showing at the Piazza in Kowloon Park on Sunday.

“It wasn’t a bad climb. I think my condition was quite good. I arrived here early – on Wednesday – so I had a bit of time to adapt to the weather and any lingering jet-lag.”

Fans enthusiastically welcomed the championship’s top female seed Sol, who was beaten by 20-year-old hotshot Mei Kotake of Japan. Cheers for one of Asia’s top female climbers were only matched by those for local competitors.

Other notable opponents included Japan’s world number 12 Aya Onoe and decorated climber Hung Ying Lee from Chinese Taipei, who at times made her course look effortless in the qualifiers.

“The weather in Hong Kong has been very nice. I felt a bit nervous but overall it has been good,” said Sol, adding that she tried to avoid making the mistake she did with the black taping in the qualifiers.