The sixth edition of the International Federation of Sport Climbing World Cup will be held in Vashi, Navi Mumbai starting today with 150 participants expected, reports PTI. The City Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra‘s CIDCO Exhibition Centre in Vashi will once again play host for the World Cup.

The Italy-based IFSC has 86 member federations across five continents. Following the success of the World Cup in 2016 with over 8000 plus people in attendance at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre, the IFSC Governing Council voted to award India its second IFSC Climbing World Cup in 2017.

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation headed by Col. Chauhan is the host of the World Cup in India, with efforts being coordinated by Brig. Yadav, Chairman, Sport Climbing, IMF West Zone.

The IMF has given the Mumbai-based Girivihar Mountaineering Club the responsibility to organise the event. IMF President Col. Chauhan said: “Sport Climbing has grown in popularity in India over the last few years, simultaneously with the increase of climbing walls across the country. Now that it has been granted the status of an Olympic sport we are confident that there will be an even bigger spike in the interest levels.”

“Bringing down the World Cup of climbing for the second year in a row and is testament to our belief of the sport only becoming bigger in the country. We will work closely with Girivihar to ensure that the tournament is bigger and better than last year,” said Col. Chauhan.