Iran’s Alipour eyeing Paris podium after reaching Hangzhou heights
Mahdieh Qazvinian
Staff writer
The speed climbing may not enjoy the level of publicity that football, basketball, tennis, boxing and etc. get in the world of sports, as far as television audiences are concerned, but the Iranians have been privileged to watch a fellow countryman ascend to a superstar status in the sport since his international breakthrough came a decade ago.
Reza Alipour first made a name for himself at the 2013 IFSC Climbing World Cup, though it was his world-record breaking performance at the event in Nanjing, China, four years later that earned him the nicknames of ‘Persian Cheetah’ and ‘Usain Bolt of speed climbing’ – when the footage of him scaling the 15-meter wall in 5.48 seconds went viral on social media.
However, a gold medalist at the World Championships and the Asian Games in 2018, the 29-year-old Iranian gradually faded away from the international stage over the course of the past five years.
“I guess the lack of climbing infrastructure and required facilities in the country made me lose my ambitions for further achievements,” Alipour told Iran Daily.
When Alipour stepped into the climbing competitions at the recently-finished Hangzhou Asian Games in China he was regarded as an underdog as there were some high-profile names of the sport in recent years competing for the top prize.
Current world-record holder Veddriq Leonardo and his fellow Indonesian Kiromal Katibin, who shattered Alipour’s four-year record, as well as the host’s duo Long Jinbao – a reigning World Championships runner-up – and Wu Peng – a winner in September’s IFSC World Cup – were clearly the favorites for the gold but the Iranian showed resilience to beat the odds and become one of the 13 Iranians in the 285-athlete delegation to leave the Games with the coveted prize.
“Climbing at the Asian Games is always considered among the top-notch events of the sport. It was really tough for my opponents to compete with me in Hangzhou and I’m so thrilled to have bettered my personal record for the gold,” Alipour said.
Having finished fourth in the qualification round with 5.184 seconds, the Iranian stunned Leonardo, who slipped on the wall, in the semifinal before taking advantage of Long’s fall in the final showdown to defend his title, clocking 5.302 seconds.
Alipour was also a part of the Iranian trio in the speed relay contest, which, despite a third best qualification time, was unfortunate to finish its campaign empty-handed after a false start against Singapore in the last-eight round.
“That’s what speed climbing is all about. Milliseconds can cost you dearly,” added Alipour.
And now the Iranian says he will be looking to build on the recent success in pursuit of the prize missing in his illustrious career: The Olympic gold.
“I’ll participate in a tournament in Indonesia next month, where the winner will be granted a berth at the Paris Olympics. Six more quotas will be decided through three qualification events before the Games. I’m confident I will secure a place for Paris. My ultimate goal is to win the gold in next year. I’ll give it my best shot and I’m sure God will help me toward that success,” added the Iranian.
Alipour has headlined the Iranians’ campaigns in the international events over the years but he believes there are plenty more of his compatriots, who could star on the global stage.
“Iran is among the top speed climbing countries in the world, pretty much owing to my achievements, but other Iranians – namely Elnaz Rekabi – are also capable of succeeding in boulder and lead competitions, should they be provided with the world-class facilities.”