Former world champion Kim Ja-in, of South Korea, was upstaged by two Singapore climbers yesterday as Hong Kong played host to the first international climbing event on the long road to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Felicia Lim and Vanessa Teng completed a one-two finish for Singapore at the Kailas Just Climb 2017 event at OIympic City, as lead specialist Kim finished third in a competition that only featured boulder climbing. But there was success for Kim\u2019s brother Kim Ja-bee in the men\u2019s event as he justified his favourite status with victory over second-placed Muhammad Hilman, of Singapore, and Macau\u2019s Lok Wan-tong. For Red Bull climber Kim Ja-in, the Hong Kong event is merely the first step as she tries to perfect her skills in all three climbing disciplines for 2020, when the sport makes its Olympic debut. \u201cIn the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, athletes need to participate in all\u00a0three disciplines: lead, bouldering, and speed,\u201d she said. \u201cMy major event is lead climbing, I need to put more effort on the other two disciplines when I\u2019m training. \u201cI will not set my target on any kind of medal. The Olympic Games is a great event, I just want to enjoy it instead of concentrating\u00a0on the result.\u201d Hong Kong had one competitor in the two main events, with Chan Paak-lok finishing sixth and last in the men\u2019s competition. Kim offered some advice to budding Hong Kong climbers hoping for success in international tournaments. \u201cTo be a sports climbing athlete, you need to be well-rounded and very skillful,\u201d she said. \u201cTherefore, the training\u00a0part is essential. \u201cIt could be boring too but you need to persevere. You need to learn how to enjoy the sport, find the fun. Then you can overcome all the difficulties and get through.\u201d<\/p>\n