A proud achievement was once again recorded by the Indonesian sport climbing contingent at the 2026 Sport Climbing World Championships held in France. Two of the nation's key athletes, Veddriq Leonardo and Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi, managed to top the podium after defeating tough opponents from various countries.
In the women's speed event, Desak Made Rita showed an impressive performance against Italian athlete Giulia Randi. She secured the gold medal after clocking a time of 6.22 seconds in a fierce final match. This victory further solidifies Desak's position as one of the fastest climbers in the world.
Gold was also achieved in the men's speed event through Veddriq Leonardo. The final of this event became a historic and proud moment for Indonesia, as it featured two athletes from the same country, Veddriq against his teammate, Antasyafi Robby Al Hilmi. Veddriq ultimately emerged as champion with a time of 4.89 seconds, while Robby earned the silver medal.
General Chairman of the Central National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI), Retired Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman, expressed his highest appreciation for the athletes' success. According to him, successfully raising the Red and White flag on the world's highest podium is clear proof of the consistent athlete development carried out by the Indonesian Sport Climbing Federation (FPTI).
Marciano added that this achievement is not only a source of pride for elite athletes, but also a valuable inspiration for grassroots youth development. He hopes this achievement will boost the spirit of all Indonesian sports figures to remain competitive in various international championships in the future.
