Song in harmony with Saas-Fee challenge once again as she retains UIAA Ice Climbing title

By Mike Rowbottom
Saturday, 20 January 2018

South Korea's Han Na Rai Song en route to retaining her lead climbing title at the UIAA World Cup in Saas-Fee ©UIAA

South Korea’s Han Na Rai Song, defending women’s champion on the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) Ice Climbing World Tour, also defended her lead championship at Saas-Fee tonight.

Song retained her premier position at the Swiss resort as she finished ahead of compatriot Shin Woonseon and Russia’s Maria Tolokonina.

No athlete was able to top the long, technical and demanding World Cup route.

Action at the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup event at Saas-Fee in Switzerland ©UIAA

But there was plenty for home fans to cheer as Swiss climbers Sina Goetz, Petra Klingler and Laura Von Allmen placed fifth, seventh and eighth respectively.

The men’s competition witnessed the arrival on the world stage of Iran’s Mohammadreza Korouyeh Safdarian, who claimed his first UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup medal with a third-place finish.

The gold medal went to Alexey Dengin of Russia, who finished ahead of his compatriot, Maxim Tomilov.

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