The 2026 IFSC Climbing World Cup (Keqiao, China) concluded on May 3 at the Yangshan Climbing Center in Shaoxing’s Keqiao District, according to event organizers. The competition featured the bouldering discipline. After three days of intense competition, 142 athletes from over 30 countries and regions competed for top honors in the men’s and women’s bouldering events.
In the men’s bouldering event, Japan’s Anraku Sorato, South Korea’s Lee Do-hyun, and France’s Mickey Schalk took gold, silver, and bronze respectively. For the women’s bouldering, France’s Zélia Avezou, Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret, and Australia’s Oceania Mackenzie claimed the top three positions.
As the first stop of the 2026 IFSC Climbing World Cup, this event featured an exceptionally strong field. All but one of the top ten male boulderers in the world rankings participated, while all of the top ten female boulderers competed. In the women’s bouldering event, nine of the top ten entrants advanced to the semifinals, with five reaching the finals. In the men’s event, eight of the top nine entrants made it to the semifinals, and six progressed to the finals.
The lineup was star-studded, including two-time Olympic champion and known as the “Queen” Janja Garnbret of Slovenia; Paris Olympic men’s combined champion Toby Roberts of Great Britain; 2025 World Championships bouldering champion and Japan’s Anraku Sorato; South Korea’s Lee Do-hyun, fresh off an Asian Championships bouldering gold; 2025 Keqiao World Cup women’s bouldering champion and USA’s Annie Sanders; Tokyo Olympic women’s combined silver medalist Miho Nonaka; and China’s Pan Yufei, who won the country’s first-ever World Cup bouldering title. These global climbing elite gathered in Keqiao.
In the women’s bouldering event, 22-year-old French athlete Zélia Avezou claimed her first senior title in Keqiao, denying Janja Garnbret the chance to secure her 50th World Cup win. In the men’s bouldering, six of the eight finalists had previously won World Cup titles, resulting in fierce competition. A notable highlight was China’s 19-year-old Bai Xuanpu, who improved from his 31st place debut last year to reach the finals this year.
China sent seven male and seven female athletes to compete in this stop. During the qualification rounds, five athletes (four men and one woman) advanced to the semifinals, and two men made it to the finals—a team best at the World Cup level. In the men’s bouldering, led by World Cup champion Pan Yufei, rising stars like Hu Juhan, Bai Xuanpu, and Xu Yiqi competed alongside world-class athletes. Hu Juhan and Pan Yufei qualified for the semifinals from their groups in 6th and 10th place respectively, while Bai Xuanpu and Xu Yiqi advanced in 8th and 12th place. In the semifinals, Pan Yufei and Bai Xuanpu secured their spots in the finals in 4th and 6th position. Ultimately, Pan Yufei finished 5th and Bai Xuanpu 6th in the finals.
Building on the successful hosting of the climbing events at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Keqiao District has leveraged the Asian Games legacy to explore a sustainable “Climbing+” model. The Yangshan Climbing Center has successfully hosted over ten international and national events, including World Cups and the Chinese Climbing League, accumulating a mature operational service system and establishing a unique presence on the global climbing map. In recent years, Keqiao has deepened the integration of sports and education, innovated competitive sports talent cultivation models, and actively promoted climbing in schools, allowing the sport to take root among youth. The district has also introduced top coaches and stimulated social forces to drive sports vitality, building a comprehensive talent selection and development system.
The event was organized by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and co-organized by the Mountaineering Management Center of China’s General Administration of Sport, the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Shaoxing Municipal Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Keqiao District. It was co-hosted by the Education and Sports Bureau of Keqiao District and Zhejiang Jinke Bridge Cultural Tourism Group Co., Ltd.
