RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian women’s climbing team delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Asian Beach Games, setting a new world record and securing gold in the speed relay event in Sanya, China.

Indonesian climbers Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi/Kadek Adi Asih emerged as champions after defeating South Korean Jimin Jeong and Hanaerum Sung in the final. However, their historic achievement came earlier in the semifinals.

Competing against China’s Yafei Zhou and Lijuan Deng, the host pair initially broke the world record with a time of 13.178 seconds. Moments later, the Indonesian duo surpassed it with a faster time of 13.174 seconds, shaving off 0.04 seconds.

“We didn’t expect to break the record because we were only focused on giving our best performance,” Desak said after the race on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The record-breaking run propelled them into the final, where they completed their campaign by clinching the gold medal. “I dedicate this medal to Indonesia,” Desak added.

For Kadek Adi Asih, the victory marked a turning point after disappointment in the individual event. “This gold medal means a lot to me. Thank you for all the support,” she said.

Indonesia sent eight athletes to compete in speed climbing events at the Games, split evenly between men and women. They participated in both individual speed and team speed relay competitions against athletes from China, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.

In the speed relay format, teams race based on cumulative time, with climbers taking turns without resetting the clock. The fastest total time determines the winner. ***