Indonesian Teen Wins Gold in Bouldering at Asia Championship

Fifteen-year-old Ardana Cikal Damarwulan climbed from seventh place to gold in one final round, stunning competitors from Japan and South Korea at the Asia Youth Championship in Guiyang, China. His victory in the under-17 men's bouldering competition marks Indonesia's emergence as a force in all three rock climbing disciplines.

Cikal scored 69.7 points in the final round on August 22, 2026, edging out Japan's Nakayama Takumi and South Korea's Choi Jungyoon, who both scored 69.2. The comeback performance showcased the grit that makes bouldering unique among climbing sports.

Unlike speed climbing, where athletes race up 15-meter walls in seconds, bouldering challenges climbers to solve complex routes on 4-meter walls without safety ropes. Athletes climb over thick mats, tackling what the sport calls "problems" within strict time limits. Success depends on strength, balance, and creative problem-solving.

For years, Indonesian climbers dominated in speed, culminating in Veddriq Leonardo's gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Then lead climbing athletes began breaking through, with Putra Tri Ramadani winning Indonesia's first World Cup gold medal in lead just two months before Cikal's victory.

Cikal won gold in lead climbing at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, but he knows bouldering demands different skills. "There is still a lot to improve, especially in terms of strength and balance," he said after his win.

The Ripple Effect

Cikal's achievement opens new doors for Indonesian climbing. The country sent 13 young athletes to compete across all disciplines at the championship, building depth beyond its speed climbing fame. Coach Judistiro celebrated the message Cikal's performance sends: "We are also competitive on the boulder."

Pristiawan Buntoro, Secretary General of the Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation, called Cikal's success "the answer to the question of how we can continue to improve the abilities of athletes in the bouldering category." With bouldering common at Indonesian universities for a decade, the talent pool runs deep.

Indonesia now boasts medal-winning athletes in speed, lead, and bouldering, tripling its chances at international competitions. Young climbers across the country can see paths to success in whichever discipline matches their strengths.

A teenager who refused to give up after placing seventh just proved Indonesia belongs on every climbing wall.