Asma Al Thani becomes first Qatari woman to scale Everest
Asma is on a mission to become the first woman from the Middle East to complete the Explorers Grand Slam, which involves climbing all of the Seven highest Summits in the seven continents, and reaching the North and South Pole
Qatari princess Asma Al Thani on Friday stood atop Mount Everest (8,848.86 m), becoming the first Qatari woman to do so, organizers said.
The 31-year-old member of the Qatari royal family reached the summit with a 20-member expedition team led by famed mountaineer Nirmal Purja ‘Nimsdai’. Last year, she had to call off the expedition due to a coronavirus outbreak.
Asma, director of marketing and communication of Qatar Olympic Committee, wanted to take ‘Al Rihla’- the official World Cup 2022 Football - to the summit of Mount Everest. Nimsdai helped her realize the mission.
Earlier, Asma made a successful ascent of the third highest peak Kanchenjunga (8,586m) with Nimsdai, becoming the first Arab woman to achieve the feat.
Asma is on a mission to become the first woman from the Middle East to complete the Explorers Grand Slam, which involves climbing all of the Seven highest Summits in the seven continents, and reaching the North and South Pole. She overcame the toughest challenge in her slam by successfully summiting Mount Everest.
She will attempt to summit Lhotse later tonight. With the summit of Lhotse, she will complete summit of five peaks above 8,000 meters. She has already climbed Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Manaslu (8,163m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m) and Everest (8,848.86m).
Nimsdai’s announcement of helping to take Al Rihla to the summit of Everest had drawn criticism from all quarters for his apathy toward Qatar’s mistreatment of Nepalis laborers, particularly those working on stadiums and other infrastructure for the upcoming World Cup.
As Purja’s team wrapped up their ascent, the Everest expedition for this spring season has come to an end. The Everest Base Camp looks almost deserted as most climbers have returned to Kathmandu after successful summits. This year, 325 climbers had obtained permits for Everest.
This season saw three casualties on Everest. Pavel Kostrikin,55, a Russian climber, died while he was trekking between Camp I and Camp II during regular acclimatization. Climbing guide Nima Tenji Sherpa of Solukhumbu breathed his last near the Khumbu icefall while shuttling loads to higher camp. Dipak Mahat, a climbing guide from Gulmi district, died during treatment in Kathmandu. He had been evacuated from camp II due to high altitude sickness.
Multi record holder Nimsdai made two new world records this season —climbing three 8,000ers - Everest, Lhotse and Kanchenjunga - in 8 days, 23 hours and 10 minutes without oxygen and completing the Everest to Lhotse traverse without oxygen in 26 hours.
Another record making client of Nimsdai’s expedition includes Mexican climber Juan Diego Martinez Alvarez, first person to play a piano at the summit of Mount Everest. 19 year old Martinez climbed without prior mountain climbing experience and also became the youngest Mexican to summit Mount Everest.
Similarly, French climber Alasdair McKenzi from Nimsdai’s team became the youngest mountaineer at the top of Lhotse (8,516m). Previously Indian Arjun Vajpai had summited Lhotse at the age of 17 years, 11 months and 16 days. Born on June 20, 2004, Alasdair beat him by about a month
