Asmita Dorjee
Photo: File photo
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Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) senior instructor and mountaineer Asmita Dorjee has scaled Mount Everest. Tata Steel issued a statement saying that 39-year-old Asmita has conquered the world’s highest peak in the early hours of Tuesday, 23 May. She set out on her journey on 3 April and reached Everest Base Camp on 14 April after 8 days of travel through the Khumbu region.
On May 18, Asmita crossed the difficult Khumbu Icefall and completed the trek to Camp II on May 19, the statement said. It said that she started her final summit trek at 10 pm on 22 May and successfully reached the summit at 8.20 am (Indian time) on 23 May.
Dorji was accompanied by his Sherpa guide Lakfa Nuru, a very experienced Sherpa guide from Nepal. TSAF Chairman Chanakya Chowdhary said, “It is a special occasion for Asmita and the entire TSAF team. We are very proud of Asmita who did not give up even after failing during her attempt to reach the summit last year without supplementary oxygen. Asmita had gone on the Everest mission last year too, but she fainted just before 100 meters.
The achievement of Asmita has added another glorious chapter in the history of India and TSAF along with Mount Everest, he added. I am sure we will not only continue to promote adventure sports and produce more champions like Asmita, but also create a healthier and stronger nation in the process.
A year ago on May 13, 2022, Asmita attempted to scale the world’s highest mountain without supplementary oxygen, a rare feat even among experienced climbers. She scaled Mount Manaslu (8163 m) without supplementary oxygen on September 30, 2022, becoming the second Indian woman to do so.