Shillong, Mar 19: Eastern Command claimed the title of overall champions at the 13th Inter Command Sport Climbing Championship 2025–26, which was held at the Eastern Command Sport Climbing Node of 58 Gorkha Training Centre, Happy Valley here.
The event ran from March 16 to 19 under the aegis of the Eastern Command and Army Adventure Wing, Ministry of Defence.
Officials – judges, route setters and belayers – were provided by the Meghalaya Sport Climbing and Mountaineering Association (MeSCMA).
Six out of eight commands participated in the championship, with each team comprising nine climbers, one coach and one manager. Eastern Command took three gold, one silver and one bronze to become team champions. Northern Command (one silver, one bronze) and Central Command (one silver) were second and third.
The championship was the first such sport climbing competition conducted by the Indian Army in the North East, which should pave the way for hosting larger national and international events in the future.
Present at the closing ceremony were Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa, the GOC 101 Area; Brig Joe Sabby, Commandant of 58 GTC; Finely L Pariat, general secretary of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association; and Malviancy Shabong, president of MeSCMA.
The climbing wall at the location was inaugurated last year and is designed for all three international disciplines – bouldering, lead climbing and speed climbing. With the 39th National Games coming to Meghalaya next year, there is an important opportunity to highlight sport climbing and establish Meghalaya as a pioneering state in hosting the discipline as part of the National Games. MeSCMA believes that events like this will significantly boost the development and recognition of sport climbing in the region and contribute to the growing pool of climbers and increase the state’s medal-winning potential.
