This photo taken in Mar 2023 shows Chinese speed climber Long Jianguo during the 29th National Climbing Championships. (PHOTO / XINHUA）

GENEVA - China's speed climber Long Jianguo topped the podium on Sunday at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Villars, where the 20-year-old had taken his first IFSC World Cup gold last year.

In women's discipline, China's Deng Lijuan kept raising her personal best after she finished with 6.53 seconds and 6.47 seconds in the quarterfinal and semifinal

Long went up against compatriot Zhang Liang, who eliminated current world-record holder Leonardo of Indonesia in the quarterfinal, and pocketed the gold with a time of 5.26 seconds.

"I feel so lucky and happy because last year I won gold here as well, so Villars is definitely my lucky venue," said Long afterwards.

Long also discussed his goals at the upcoming World Championships. "I hope it will go easily and smoothly in the World Championships, a bit like today so that I can qualify for the Paris Olympics," said Long.

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Long's victory also marked the first gold for China this season, during which they had lost to rivals from Poland and Indonesia several times before the Villars event.

Japan's Omasa Ryo reached the top in 5.30 seconds with Samuel Watson of the United States falling to hand him the bronze medal.

In women's discipline, China's Deng Lijuan kept raising her personal best after she finished with 6.53 seconds and 6.47 seconds in the quarterfinal and semifinal.

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But the defending champion, who won her personal first World Cup medal here last year, failed to repeat the feat after she was eliminated by Poland's Natalia Kalucka in the semifinal, settling for a bronze medal with a time of 6.49 seconds.

Kalucka beat Emma Hunt of the United States to take the gold.