South African Rock Climbing Champion, Jasmin (Jazz) Pillai has been selected to join the KwaZulu-Natal team in participating in the National Championships in Johannesburg from 1-2 October 2011…

South African Rock Climbing Champion, Jasmin (Jazz) Pillai has been selected to join the KwaZulu-Natal team in participating in the National Championships in Johannesburg from 1-2 October 2011. Pillai was ranked SA’s top climber in the under 19 category in 2010 and will be representing the province for the third time.

The first year Interior Design student at Durban University of Technology, is ready to take up the challenge at the national championships in Johannesburg. She is scheduled to leave for her three night trip on 30 September. The competition is split into preliminary rounds with the finals taking place over three days.

Despite the funding challenge she has been facing, her family is happy and proud of her performance. Her mother, Claude Pillai said: “Her achievements are phenomenal”. DUT has offered to assist her.

Pillai came in first position in the category for Under 17 in 2009 and Under 19 in 2010. Rock climbing has become her hobby since she first participated in the sport as an extracurricular activity, in grade 9, at Durban Girls High School. “Rock-climbing is my passion and I’ll probably do it for the rest of my life as it is a great way to stay fit and socialise. I wish more people knew about it so we could promote the sport,” she said.

To become successful climber, Pillai added that it is important ‘to know yourself and trust your own body’.