With the First Two World Cups Done, Sorato Anraku Looks Unstoppable

After winning gold at the Boulder World Cup in Keqiao last week, Team Japan’s Sorato Anraku earned another first-place victory on Sunday in Wujiang at the opening Lead World Cup of the 2025 season. He completed both qualification round routes, nearly finished the semi-finals line, and was the only climber in the finals to reach the top.

“I went back to Japan after [the] Keqiao [Boulder World Cup] and only trained once in lead, so I wasn’t expecting to win this event,” said Anraku after winning gold in Wujiang. “I’m not aiming for the overall World Cup Series, but I’m aiming to win every event. Then I guess the overall will take care of itself. But I go one event at a time.”

Anraku was joined on the podium by teammate Neo Suzuki in second and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Alberto Ginés López in third. Suzuki had an interesting finals round. During an odd downclimb portion of the men’s route, Suzuki slipped but was short-roped by the belayer, very likely preventing his fall. An appeal was filed and Suzuki was forced to climb again, falling just behind where he fell on his first go. Had the short-rope not occurred and he did indeed fall during the downclimb, he would not have made the podium.

Only 18 years old, Anraku is already looking like he will become one of comp climbing’s greats. He stormed the World Cup scene in 2023, winning the overall season for both Lead and Boulder. Favoured by many to win the Paris Olympics last summer, Anraku ended up close behind Toby Roberts, earning silver. He had solid showings in both the Boulder and Lead World Cups in 2024, winning the overall Boulder season. In Lead, he won gold in Seoul, silver in Koper, and bronze in Wujiang.

Final Results

1. Sorato Anraku (JPN) TOP
2. Neo Suzuki (JPN) 40+
3. Alberto Ginés López (ESP) 39+
4. Satone Yoshida (JPN) 33
5. Yufei Pan (CHN) 32+
6. Luka Potocar (SLO) 32
7. Filip Schenk (ITA) 28+
8. Yannick Flohé (GER) 28+

Wujiang Lead World Cup Livestream Replay