TEHRAN – Iranian climber Reza Alipour successfully defended his Asian Games title on Tuesday.

He took the country’s sixth gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games underway in Hangzhou, China.

The final was a clash between home favorite Long Jinbao and the man who held the world record from 2017 to 2021 Alipour.

He scaled the wall in the men’s speed final in 5.302 seconds – but without challenge, as Long fell early on to provide an anti-climax for the eager home fans.

With more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories, the Asian Games has more participants than the Olympics.

Iran has sent 289 male and female athletes to the Games in 34 sports events.