Joga Purty breaks own national record again, storms into Asian Games quarterfinals

Kolkata: Joga Purty continued her rapid rise in Indian sport climbing by storming into the women’s speed climbing quarterfinals at the Asian Games on Tuesday while rewriting the national record yet again.The 19-year-old from Jamshedpur clocked 7.28 seconds in the qualification round at Portmesse Nagoya Exhibition Hall to finish ninth among Asia’s best speed climbers and secure a place in the knockout stage. In the process, she improved on her own national record of 7.37 seconds, a mark that had earned her a place in India’s Asian Games squad.Asian Games Full Coverage | Schedule | Medal TallyThe performance came as little surprise to those who have watched the teenager’s journey from close quarters.“Even when she first came to us in 2019, I felt there was something special about her,” said Babulal Rawat, her coach at the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) Climbing Academy. “Around 40 children had come for a trial, but the way she moved on the wall stood out immediately. She was climbing better than many athletes who had already been training for two or three years.”Purty’s road to the Asian Games has been far from smooth. Coming from a modest background in Jamshedpur, she was initially shy and often reluctant to compete. Today, however, she is among Asia’s top speed climbers.“There are very few female climbers in India who can match Joga’s level and pace during training. As a result, she often trains and races against boys,” said Rawat, a former climber who moved from Uttarakhand to Jamshedpur in 2014 and took up coaching in 2018. “That pushes her to compete harder every day and gives her an additional source of motivation.”The coach also stressed that international exposure would be critical if Purty has to fulfil her long-term potential.“When she goes abroad and trains against stronger climbers, that motivation becomes even greater, which is why international exposure is so important for her development,” he added.Purty’s 7.28-second effort, while a national record, also highlighted the gap that Indian climbers are trying to bridge at the highest level. China’s Lijuan Deng topped the qualification round with an Asian Games record of 6.23 seconds, while South Korea’s Jimin Jeong was second with a best time of 6.25 seconds.Rawat believes closing that gap will require sustained investment in the sport.“Sport climbing is still very new in India. Many people are not even aware of the sport. Athletes need regular international exposure and opportunities to compete against the world’s best. A short training trip abroad is not enough. If our climbers are to challenge for medals consistently, they need to compete internationally much more often,” he said.For now, though, his focus is on the knockout rounds of the Asian Games, where climbers race head-to-head on the 15-metre wall. Rawat believes Purty can lower the national record even further in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.“I still feel she can do even better. She has the talent to improve on her personal best,” he said.And judging by Tuesday’s performance, Purty has already shown she belongs among Asia’s elite, with the teenager from Jamshedpur continuing to push the boundaries of Indian sport climbing one national record at a time.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.