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IFSC World Cup 2016: Youth World Championships Start Nov. 7

The IFSC Youth World Championships are from Nov. 7 to 13. All eyes will be on Janja Garnbret in the Youth A category. Since claiming Gold in Bouldering and Lead at the IFSC World Youth Championships Arco 2015, the seventeen-year-old from Slovenia has gone on to become world champion at the IFSC World Championships Paris 2016 and clinch the IFSC Lead World Cup 2016 Overall title. A victory in Guangzhou would add to the legacy of her historic 2016 season.

Ashima Shiraishi of the United States was equally impressive in Arco last year, completing every climb in Bouldering and Lead for Youth B. At just fifteen years old, Shiraishi is already considered one of the best in the sport. Expect more of the same great climbing from the young superstar this year.

The Juniors category will also be exciting for the Females. Arco runner-up Miho Nonaka of Japan soared to a new level this year, finishing second at Paris and second in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup 2016 rankings. She will look to unseat Serbian Stasa Gejo, who won Gold last year and gave strong performances at Paris and the IFSC Bouldering World Cup Munich 2016. In Lead, keep an eye on Kajsa Rosen of Sweden, Gold medallist at the European Lead Youth Championships Mitterdorf 2016.

Filip Schenk was in a league of his own last year, and the young Italian proved he can compete in Youth A at the European Bouldering Youth Championships Langenfield 2016. Arco runner-up Nicolas Pelorson of France will be the one to catch in Juniors, who also topped the Langenfield podium. Pelorson missed out on Gold last year to 2015 season champion Jongwon Chon of Korea by just one bonus attempt. Standing in his way this year could be Yoshiyuki Ogata of Japan, who placed 17th in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup 2016 rankings.

In Lead, Sascha Lehmann of Switzerland should handle the graduation from from Youth A to Juniors. The reigning world youth champion climbed well at Paris and is currently ranked 16th in the IFSC Lead World Cup rankings. Sam Avezou of France -­ who won Gold at Arco and Silver at Mitterdorf ­- should continue to battle for the top spot in Youth B.

Kostiantyn Pavlenko has qualified for multiple IFSC Speed World Cup finals this year, and the Ukranian posted a 6.34 at Paris. The 2015 world youth champion should continue the momentum at Guangzhou in Juniors. Another reigning champion switching categories is Russian Petr Zemlyakov of Youth B, who also gained experience in Paris.

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For the Females, Elma Fleuret and Aurelia Sarisson should excel in Youth A and Juniors. They have been staples in the IFSC Speed World Cup series this season and qualified for Finals in Paris as well. Mitterdorf winner and Arco runner-up Karina Gareeva of Russia is the Youth B frontrunner. Full schedule here.

The following Canadians will be heading to the IFSC World Youth Championships in Guangzhou, China: Spencer Hebb, Sonja Johanson, Hayden Jones, Teyha Rogers, Dylan Saffery, Junstine McCarney, Tyson Martinot, Manh Ellis, Sophie Buitendyk, Mitchell Haight, Bronwen Karnis, Aidan Doyle, Lucas Uchida, Kyle Murdoch, Paige Boklaschuk, Tosh Sherkat, Nathan Smith, Zach Richardson, Elizabeth Vince, Lia Wieckowski, Manon MacKasey and Madison Fischer.

The team officials are Chris Neve, Shomir Adrian Kumar Das, Matt Johnson, Jelisa Dunbar, Laurence Ether and Ron Gosselin. Full starter lineup here. Stay tuned for more and go Canada go!

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