TSAF climbers Joga Purty, Deepu Mallesh represent India at 2026 Asian Games
PINAKI MAJUMDAR Jamshedpur, September 28: Two athletes from the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) Climbing Academy — Joga Purty and Deepu Mallesh…
TSAF climbers
PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, September 28: Two athletes from the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) Climbing Academy — Joga Purty and Deepu Mallesh — are representing India in sport climbing at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, marking a significant milestone for the climbers and the academy’s growing contribution to competitive climbing in India.
The Asian Games began on September 19 and will conclude on October 4.
Joga Purty: From Jamshedpur Climbing Wall to Asian Games
Nineteen-year-old Jamshedpur-based Joga Purty has emerged as one of India’s promising young speed climbers. Her introduction to the sport came in 2019 during a visit to the JRD Tata Sports Complex with friends and brothers.
What began as an experiment with a new sport gradually developed into a competitive pursuit. Joga joined the TSAF Climbing Academy in 2021 and has since made rapid progress on the national and international circuit.
She is a national record holder in speed climbing with a personal best of 7.37 seconds and has won medals at the National Climbing Championships in speed, lead and boulder disciplines.
Her international experience includes participation in the World Climbing Youth World Championships, World Climbing Youth Asian Championships and World Climbing Asia Championships. Her consistent performances eventually earned her a place in India’s climbing contingent for the Asian Games.
Deepu Mallesh Brings Elite Experience
For 28-year-old Deepu Mallesh, the journey to the Asian Games has been built on years of competitive experience and perseverance.
Introduced to climbing as a teenager in Bengaluru, Deepu gradually moved from recreational participation to competitive sport and established himself among India’s leading speed climbers.
He holds the Indian national record with a timing of 5.39 seconds, is ranked No. 1 in India in speed climbing and was the national champion in 2025. He has also set multiple national records during his career.
Deepu has competed at World Climbing World Cup events in countries including Korea, Indonesia and France, besides Chamonix. His sustained performances have now culminated in his selection for the Indian team at the Asian Games.
TSAF Academy Builds Pathway for Competitive Climbing
The journeys of Joga and Deepu reflect different stages of an athlete’s development — from grassroots exposure and structured academy training to elite-level international competition.
The TSAF Climbing Academy, formally established in 2020 with its residential programme commencing in 2021, provides specialised coaching, residential support, nutrition, training facilities and opportunities to compete at national and international levels.
For young athletes such as Joga, the academy has provided a structured environment to develop skills and compete nationally. For experienced competitors like Deepu, it has offered a platform to continue training and competing at the highest level while contributing to the development of the climbing ecosystem.
Jamshedpur’s Growing Climbing Legacy
The Asian Games participation of the two athletes adds another significant chapter to TSAF’s efforts to promote sport climbing. It also highlights Jamshedpur’s growing association with the discipline and its contribution to India’s emerging pool of competitive climbers.
As Joga Purty and Deepu Mallesh take the international stage in Aichi-Nagoya, their journeys underline the evolution of sport climbing in India and the role of structured training programmes in preparing athletes for major international competitions.
