Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a remarkable feat, 5-year-old Teghbir Singh from Ropar, Punjab has become the youngest Asian to scale the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Located in Tanzania, the mountain stands tall at an impressive height of 19,340 feet (5,895 meters).
Teghbir’s incredible achievement equals the world record set by Ognjen Zivkovic, a Serbian boy who summited the mountain on August 6, 2023, at the same age. The young mountaineer, who is a 1st standard student at Shiwalik Public School in Ropar, began his trek on August 18 and reached the Uhuru peak, the highest point of the mountain, on August 23, 2024.
The trek posed significant challenges, including low oxygen levels and the risk of altitude sickness. Despite these obstacles, Teghbir persevered and reached the summit, where the normal temperature is -10 degrees Celsius. Upon reaching the top, he proudly stated, “I knew where I was to reach and finally, I reached and had a picture with my father there. I was told to enchant Waheguru on being tired and I did that. It helped me scale the summit”.
Teghbir attributed his success to his coach Bikramjit Singh Ghuman, a retired handball coach, and his supportive family. His father, Sukhinderdeep Singh, who accompanied him on the trek, revealed that his son had been preparing for this challenge for nearly a year. Under the guidance of his coach, Teghbir underwent training to improve his cardiovascular health and increase his lung capacity to cope with altitude sickness. He also went on weekly treks with his father and coach to various hilly locations.
During the trek, Teghbir walked approximately 8-10 kilometres each day, facing increasingly cold temperatures as he ascended. The team, consisting of Teghbir, his father, two guides, and two support staff, stayed in temporary tents and took the Machame Route to reach the summit in 6 days. They faced a fierce snowstorm during their first attempt, forcing them to return midway. However, they successfully reached the summit on their second attempt, despite the challenging weather conditions.
Teghbir’s mother, Dr Manpreet Kaur, a gynecologist, emphasized the importance of a strict diet in her son’s success. Expressing gratitude to his coach, family, friends, and Sanvi Sood, who serves as a role model for mountaineering in the state, Dr Manpreet said, “Teghbir is expected to return home on August 30. He had previously completed the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek in April this year.”
Congratulating Teghbir on his achievement, Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav posted on X: “Teghbir’s determination and resilience are an inspiration to us all. May his achievements motivate others to push beyond their limits and strive for greatness.”
