Five-year-old Teghbir Singh from Ropar, Punjab, has become the youngest Asian to scale Mount Kilimanjaro, 5895 metres, the highest peak in Africa. Later, this world record was set by a Serbian boy who scaled the peak at the same age.
Teghbir began his trek on August 18th. Teghbir Singh was accompanied by his father, two guides, and two support staff in his team. They completed the climb in six days, and on August 23, they reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point of the mountain in Tanzania.
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.
The young mountaineer, who is a student of 1st standard at Shiwalik Public School in Ropar, Teghbir Singh, credited his success to his coach, Bikramjit Singh Ghuman, a retired handball coach, and his supportive family.
Upon reaching the mountain peak, Teghbir Singh 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 about being tired, and I did that. It helped me scale the summit.”
Teghbir's father, Sukhinderdeep Singh, revealed that his son had been preparing for this challenge for nearly a year. Under the guidance of his coach, Bikramjit Singh Ghuman, 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.
Teghbir equals the record set by Ognjen Zivkovic, a Serbian boy who summited the mountain on August 6, 2023, at the same age as Teghbir Singh.