In the small hours of July 18, 2024 (Chinese time), Deng Lijuan, a 2021 undergraduate student from Donghua University, achieved an outstanding performance in the speed climbing event of the IFSC World Cup stage in Briançon, France, securing her fifth individual World Cup title and bringing honor to our country and school.
(Deng Lijuan in the middle)
In the qualifying round, Deng Lijuan ranked fourth with a time of 6.84 seconds. In the round of 16 and quarterfinals, she consecutively defeated the athletes from the United States and Italy, and advanced to the semifinals along with her teammates Zhang Shaoqin and Wang Shengyan. In the semifinals, Deng Lijuan faced off against her Chinese teammate Zhang Shaoqin, who had just won the previous IFSC World Cup stage in Chamonix and was ranked first in the qualifying round. After an intense competition, Deng Lijuan advanced to the final with an excellent time of 6.47 seconds. In the final, against a South Korean athlete, Deng Lijuan played well and eventually won the gold medal with an outstanding time of 6.41 seconds, showcasing her exceptional athletic talent and indomitable spirit.
（During the race）
Since obtaining her Olympic qualification on November 12, 2023, Deng Lijuan has been tirelessly training. In May 2024, during the Shanghai Olympic qualification events, she made a special trip back to her alma mater, Donghua University, to visit and encourage her teammates who were preparing for the qualification race there.