Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 21: Suman Verma, a young mountaineer from Parngoli village in Kathua district, achieved a remarkable feat by scaling Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe. Standing at 5,642 meters (18,510 feet), Mount Elbrus is located in Russia and is known for its challenging weather conditions.
Despite adverse weather, which caused her group to consider turning back on their initial summit attempt on August 15, Suman’s determination led her to wait for better conditions. Her persistence paid off when she successfully reached the summit at 8:10 am on August 17, proudly hoisting the Tricolor on Russia’s highest peak.
Suman, the daughter of Sardari Lal Verma, has added this achievement to her growing list of mountaineering accomplishments, having previously scaled the highest mountain in South Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania. Her success has brought immense pride to her family, village and the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Upon her return, Suman was warmly welcomed by her family, villagers, and local officials. Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Dr. Rakesh Minhas, honoured her with garlands and praised her for bringing glory to the region. He expressed that Suman’s achievement is a matter of great pride and emphasized that she serves as an ambassador for sports. Dr. Minhas assured her of all possible support in her future endeavours, including her next goal of scaling Mount Everest.
Suman shared that her mountaineering journey has been fuelled by her passion and the encouragement of her family, despite financial challenges. She has been saving from her job in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Srinagar to fund her expeditions, and she continues to train for her ultimate goal of conquering Mount Everest next year.
Her father, Sardari Lal, expressed his pride in his daughter’s determination, despite the lack of support from sports authorities or sponsors. The local ex-Sarpanch, Subash Sharma, called on the Government and sports organizations to step up and support dedicated athletes like Suman, ensuring they receive the necessary resources to achieve their dreams.
The celebration of Suman’s achievement was attended by her family members, including her mother Yash Rani, sisters Anjali Verma and Diksha Rani, and other villagers, all of whom expressed their pride and joy at her success.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
