Indonesian Aspar Aspar and Chinese Deng Lijuan are on top of the podium at the last Speed World Cup of the season in Jakarta. Overall World Cup winners are Veddriq Leonardo and Aleksandra Kalucka, who dominated the 2022 season.
The 30-year-old secured himself for the men Aspar Aspar the second World Cup gold medal of his career - four years after his first place finish in Wujiang, China in October 2018. The Indonesian edged out his teammate Kiromal Katibin and posted an impressive streak of consistently fast times: 5,39 in the first lap, 5,27 in the second, 5,31 in the semifinals and again 5,39 in the gold medal race.
Wafer-thin decision between Katibin and Leonardo
After receiving a wild card in the first round, Kiromal Katibin won the closest race of the competition against his teammate, friend and four-time World Cup gold medalist Veddriq Leonardo: 5,14 for Katibin, 5,15 for Leonardo.
However, the world record holder slipped in the two following races, winning the semifinals thanks to a slip of Cao Long and stopped the clock at 5,75 in the race against Aspar Aspar. Cao Long completed the podium in third ahead of his compatriot Long Jinbao and got his first World Championship medal ever.
Veddriq Leonardo wins overall World Cup
Despite missing out on a medal on home soil, Veddriq Leonardo secured the 4.455 IFSC Speed World Cup title with 2022 points. Kiromal Katibin was second with 4.080 points and Cao Long was third with 3.105 points.
Deng Lijuan wins duel against Natalia Kalucka
Deng Lijuan from China won the women's speed final with an impressive best time: 7,05 on the first lap, followed by 6,91, 6,69 and finally a fantastic 6,66 in the gold medal race against the Pole Natalia Kalucka.
The bronze medal went to Aleksandra Kaluckawho the fall of Di Niu in the race for the bronze medal and finished with 6,81 seconds.
Overall World Cup victory goes to Pole Aleksandra Kalucka
On the 2022 Women's Speed World Cup podium, Aleksandra Kalucka took first place with 4.680 points, followed by Emma Hunt from the USA with 3.950 points. Aleksandra's twin sister Natalia took third place with 3.820 points.
MEDAL COUNT
After seven stages spread across six cities and three continents, the final speed medal table shows China in first place, followed by Indonesia and Poland. The USA, Spain and Austria also won medals in 2022.
- China: 5 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals
- Indonesia: 4 x gold, 2 x silver, 6 x bronze
- Poland: 4 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze
- USA: 1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze
- Spain: 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Austria: 1 silver
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Credits: Cover Photo Lena Drapella/IFSC