Japan's 18-year-old Ai Mori won her first climbing World Cup event Saturday in women's lead competition in Koper, Slovenia, denying unbeaten Slovene Janja Garnbret her fifth straight win this season.

Mori, who failed to qualify for last year's Tokyo Olympics, was Japan's only women's finalist. She reached 30+ to beat Olympic champion Garnbret's 27+. American Brooke Raboutou was third at 23+.

Japan's Ai Mori (C) celebrates winning sport climbing World Cup's fifth lead event of the season in Koper, Slovenia, on Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo courtesy of JMSCA)(Kyodo)

Garnbret was the only climber to reach the top on the semifinal wall, with Mori, the five-time Japan Cup lead champion, next closest, at 45+, to reach the eight-woman final.

Slovene Luka Potocar won the men's lead with Ao Yurikusa's fourth the best among four Japanese finalists. Taisei Homma was sixth, Yoshiyuki Ogata seventh and Satone Yoshida eighth.

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