Brothers Bassa and Mickael Mawem dominated the men’s speed and bouldering qualifiers, respectively on the opening day of the sport climbing competition in the Tokyo Olympics at the Aomi Urban Sports Park here on Tuesday.

Know Your Sport – Sport Climbing

The French veteran Bassa Mawem took the early lead in men’s combined speed qualifier with a career-best performance. The 36-year-old Frenchman was the fastest up the speed wall with a timing of 5.45 seconds

Japan’s Tomoa Narasaki was second in 5.94s while Bassa’s younger brother Mickael Mawem took the third spot in 5.95s.

Cycling:  Germany wins women’s team pursuit with World Record

In the men’s combined bouldering qualifier, Mickael roared back into the top spot with a superb effort. He completed three tops out of the four to finish first.

Japan’s Narasaki continued his consistent work and completed two tops to take the second spot.

Czech climbing veteran Adam Ondra, after a poor show in the speed event in which he finished 18th, clinched the third spot to keep his qualification hopes alive.

However, Bassa slipped badly on the bouldering wall and finished a lowly 18th.

Jakob Schubert wins lead qualifier

Austrian Jakob Schubert won the lead qualifier in the men’s sport climbing combined event. Colin Duffy of US finished second while Ginu Lopez of Spain was third in the lead qualifier.

However, Mickael Mawem led the standings in the qualification with 33 points even as he finished 11th in the lead qualifier. Japanese Tomoa Naraskai, who finished 14th in the lead qualifier,  was second with 56 points while Colin Duffy was the overall third with 60 points.

Apart from these three climbers, five others made it into the final which will be held on Thursday. Bassa Mawem, who set an Olympic record in speed, was also among the eight qualifiers. The players’ individual positions in speed, bouldering and lead are multiplied to arrive at the final score in the combined event.

The qualifiers

1. Mickael Mawem (France 33 points), 2. Tomao Narasaki (Japan 56 pts), 3. Colin Duffy (USA 60 pts), 4. Jakob Schubert (Austria 84 pts), 5. Adam Ondra (Czech Republic 216 pts). 6. Ginu Lopez (Spain 294 pts), 7. Bassa Mawem (France 360), 8. Nathaniel Coleman (USA 550 pts).