The electric atmosphere of competitive climbing permeated Camp5 Eco City in Kuala Lumpur on 4 May 2024, as the Crank Bouldering Competition 2024 unfolded. This esteemed event, considered Malaysia’s premier bouldering competition, drew in 400 athletes eager to showcase their climbing prowess on the walls.

The day commenced with gripping qualification rounds spanning across two Adult and four Youth categories, laying the groundwork for an intense showdown. Climbers pushed their boundaries, exhibiting extraordinary strength and agility as they tackled intricate boulder problems.

In the Male Open Category, athletes faced a daunting challenge, embarking on two one-hour sessions to conquer six demanding boulder routes. The field boasted elite climbers from various countries, with China’s Chan Cheung Chi Shoji standing out by scaling all six boulders. Meanwhile, Malaysian talent Giak Ambrosse Hilton, a prominent figure in Sarawak’s climbing community, expressing enthusiasm for representing Malaysia and highlighting the need for more opportunities for aspiring climbers in the region.

Sharing his thoughts on his journey to the finals, Hilton remarked, “To be honest, I expect(ed) for the worst. It’s always nice to perform with zero expectations; I think that is when I perform at my best, with no expectations tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes. I will try my best, go all out with nothing to lose. I’m happy to represent Malaysia in the final. I believe there is a lot of (Sarawakian) talent out there, and they definitely can do it; they just need more exposure, and I really hope the local gyms in Sarawak will expose them to more competition routes and stuff like that and do more selections for the state. I do believe that with these kinds of things they will provide we can actually go further.”

Reflecting on the competition journey, Hilton emphasised the importance of performing without preconceived notions and advocated for increased exposure for Sarawakian talent.

In the Female Open Category, Singaporean climbers showcased exceptional prowess, dominating the field throughout the event. Former and current national climbers dominated the finals, with Indonesian Fitria Hartani making it to the top eight. Despite commendable performances, Malaysian talents Chen Shin Yee and Renee Tan narrowly missed out on securing final berths, underscoring the fierce competition.

With the conclusion of the qualification rounds, anticipation mounts for the finals slated for Sunday, 5 May 2024. Viewers can catch all the action live on YouTube starting at 8:15 AM. For further information and updates, visit the official event website.

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