Ropar boy becomes world's youngest to scale Europe's highest mountain peak

Indian Express

11 hours ago

Teghbir Singh has become the youngest ever in the world to scale the Mount Elbrus which is the highest peak of European continent and located in Russia at a height of more than 18,510 ft (5,642 metres). He is all of six years and nine months.
Hailing from Ropar, Teghbir started the trek to the Mount Elbrus on June 20 and walked all along to reach the Elbrus peak, the highest point of the mountain, on June 28, 2025.
It is a low-oxygen trek and one needs preparation to tackle problems associated with altitude sickness. However, conquering all these challenges, Teghbir reached the summit, where normal temperature is -10 Celsius.
After conquering the peak, he received the Mountain Climbing Certificate issued by Mountaineering, Rock Climbing and Sports Tourism Federation Of Kabardino – Balkarian Republik (Russia).
'It is to certify that Teghbir Singh from India is the world's youngest sumiter on Mount Elbrus at age of 6 years , 9 months & 4 days,' states the certificate.
Elated over the achievement, Teghbir said, 'I knew where I was to reach and finally I reached and had a picture with my father there.'
'I was walking first time on snow. My shoes were heavy but I had practised it,' said the second standard student of Shiwalik Public School, Ropar.
The previous world record was set last year by Wagah Kushagra, a native of Maharashtra, at the age of 7 years and 3 months.
In August 2024, Teghbir had become the youngest Asian to scale Mt Kilimanjaro (highest peak of African continent). His name features in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.
He had also reached Mt Everest Base Camp, Nepal, in April 2024.
Delighted over the new achievement of scaling Europe's highest peak, his father Sukhinderdeep Singh said, 'Teghbir started preparing for this feat almost a year back. He was trained by Bikramjit Singh Ghuman (retired coach) who used to help him with the exercises related to increase cardiovascular health and increase lung capacity to deal with altitude sickness. He used to go on weekly treks with me and coach to different hilly locations.'
'The climb was different as compared to Mt Kilimanjaro and other treks he did before. It was first time he was walking in snow with high boots, crampons, harness & oxygen support on. It increased the weight on feet by almost three-four kg. He walked and stayed in a low-oxygen altitude in a minus grade temperature for almost a week,' said Sukhinderdeep, who accompanied him during the journey.
His father, who works as an administrator at a hospital at Ropar, said, 'Our stays were in Mountain Huts and it took eight days to scale the summit. Due to bad weather and fierce snowstorm, the summit push was cancelled twice.'
In a brief safe window when the wind speed lowered, they set for the summit on the night of June 27 at 1 am in freezing temperature of around -20 Celsius. It was a challenging moment for the entire crew which consisted of his father, two guides, and one support staff.
They reached the summit at 7.56 am on June 28 after walking for around six hours in the freezing temperature .
A gynecologist, Teghbir's mother Dr Manpreet Kaur said, 'Diet played a major role in his journey. He followed a strict diet schedule as made by his coach.'
His father said that Teghbir Singh would reach back on July 1, 2025.