News / Sports

Iranian speed climber Alipour nominated for IWGA Athlete of the Year title

Wednesday, 03 January 2018 8:40 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 03 January 2018 8:42 AM ]

Iranian speed climber Reza Alipour Shenazandifard (file photo)

Iranian speed climber Reza Alipour Shenazandifard has been shortlisted for the International World Games Association (IWGA) Athlete of the Year 2017 title, thanks to the outstanding displays he has exhibited in international competitions.

The Iranian sportsman, nicknamed “Vertical World's Fastest Man”, is among 20 candidates, who have been nominated to gain the top honor.

“It’s a great honor to be in the list. After Olympics medal, to win the IWGA award is very precious. I hope people will support me to win the prestigious award,” Alipour said.

“I am determined to win a gold medal in the IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) Climbing World Cup to be held in Russia in April, as well as winning the 2018 Asian Games gold medal and sitting at the first place in the world ranking,” he added.

On July 23, Alipour assessed his chances at the men’s lead competitions of the World Games 2017 in the western Polish city of Wrocław, and clocked 5.58 seconds to finish first, and lift the trophy as the champion of the high-status international event.

Ukrainian climber Danyil Boldyrev had a false start, and claimed the second position of the chart.

Russia’s Stanislav Kokorin got the bronze medal of the division.

The World Games 2017 began in Wrocław, Poland, on July 21 and wrapped up on July 23.

Alipour was also crowned as the champion of China Open - Guangzhou 2017, and donated his medal to families stricken in the November 12 earthquake in the western part of Iran, which left at least 500 people dead, hundreds of others injured and dozens of villages destroyed.

Russia’s Vladislav Deulin claimed the second position of the chart with 5.89 seconds. Aleksandr Shikov, another representative from Russia, recorded 6.34 seconds and got the bronze medal of the division.

China Open - Guangzhou 2017 kicked off on November 17 and ran through November 19.

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