Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysia Mountaineering Federation (PMM) is actively preparing to host the ASEAN Climbing Championships, which is expected to be held in early July. Its President Mohd Zaidi Kamaruddin said the championships is a crucial journey to nurture new talent, give climbers exposure and develop a national team of climbers.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the championships, being organized for the first time, would be a series of competitions to get Malaysian climbers ready for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. Mohd Zaidi emphasized that the event is aimed at providing valuable competition experience for climbers, considering the high costs of training abroad.

The ASEAN Climbing Championships is expected to see participation from countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Brunei. Mohd Zaidi highlighted that PMM will also be scouting for talent and training climbers with the goal of having at least one national athlete qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

He further stated that with the ongoing efforts by the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), National Sports Council (MSN), and PMM, there is confidence in producing more international-level athletes capable of competing on the world stage in climbing sports.

Meanwhile, PMM Deputy President Mohd Akbal Amin pointed out the challenges faced in the development of climbing sports in terms of facilities and funding. He noted the lack of facilities, particularly for boulder and lead wall events, as a significant challenge. However, efforts are being made to provide the best training through a centralized program for two weeks before the ASEAN Championships.

To enhance competitiveness, Malaysian athletes are targeted to undergo regional training alongside advanced climbing nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. Mohd Akbal mentioned that financial constraints remain a challenge in sending athletes abroad for intensive training.