IFSC Sport Climbing World Cup: Japan's Anraku Sorato, Nakamura Mao Up For Bern Challenge

Some of the world’s best climbers will gather in the Swiss city for the 2025 IFSC Sport Climbing World Cup from 13-15 June. This is the eighth of the 12 events in the series.

Anraku Sorato, the silver medallist in the Boulder and Lead combined at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been phenomenal on the World Cup circuit in 2025.

- Advertisement -

The teenager began his season with three straight victories in Keqiao, Curitiba and Salt Lake City. However, in Prague he came second behind France’s Mejdi Schalck.

Nonetheless, Japan’s teenage sensation maintains a tight grip on the World Cup standings, with a nearly 1,000 point lead over Schalck who sits in second position.

- Advertisement -

Of course, Schalck won’t be the only climber with hopes of unseating Anraku, as Korea’s Lee Dohyun, who is ranked fourth, looks to dent the Japanese climber’s lead.

Second ranked Nakamura Mao of Japan will look to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Prague. She is behind France’s Oriane Bertone in the standings and will need to top the podium in Bern to surpass the French climber.

The Sport Climbing World Cup in Bern serves as a testing ground for the 2025 IFSC World Championships in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 21-28 September. At stakes are the valuable World Cup points.

- Advertisement -

The 2025 IFSC Climbing World Cup is the 37th edition of the international competition climbing series organised by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), held in 14 locations. There are 18 events per gender: six events each in the competition bouldering, competition lead climbing, and competition speed climbing disciplines. The series began on 18 April in Keqiao, Shaoxing with the first bouldering World Cup of the season, and will conclude on 5 September in Koper.