KATHMANDU, APRIL 14

President Ram Chandra Poudel today conferred various medals, awards, decorations and honours on mountaineers and social workers in recognition of their contributions to the country.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, legendary mountaineer Mingma Sherpa, record-holder woman climber Phunjo Jhangmu Lama, Everest Summiteer Shiva Bahadur Sapkota and tourism entrepreneur Rishi Prasad Nepal among others have been honoured with Jana Sewa Shree Fifth medal for rendering commendable services to the nation. Similarly, renowned woman mountaineer Maya Sherpa has been awarded with the Praval Jana Sewa Shree Fourth medal amidst a function at the President's Office.

Born in Makalu, Mingma is the first South Asian to summit all 14 highest peaks in the world. In the process, he set a world record by becoming the first mountaineer to climb all 14 peaks on the first attempt. Mingma and his brother, Chhang Dawa Sherpa, hold the world record of the world's first two brothers to successfully summit 14 of the world's highest mountains. Mingma is the Chairman of Seven Summit Treks and Vice Chairman at Heli Everest Pvt Ltd. Mingma is also involved in different social welfare activities. 'This recognition only inspires me to continue working towards the betterment of the tourism sector and to ensure that Nepal remains a top destination for adventure seekers and cultural enthusiasts alike,' he reacted.

Phunjo, who set the world record for the fastest woman to scale Mt Everest from Nepal side in 2018, is the first Nepali female helicopter long-line rescuer. Born in Chhokangpaaro village of Tsum valley in Gorkha, Phunjo scaled Mt Everest, Mt Manaslu, Mt Cho Oyu and other peaks including Amdablam, Lobuche and Denali. She had scaled Mt Everest in 39 hours 6 minutes in 2018. She has also supported rural communities for their livelihood.

President of Everest Summiteers Association Maya Sherpa is one of the six Nepali women who scaled Mt Annapurna I, scripting history as the first Nepali women to stand atop the 8,091-metre peak in 2021. Born in in Patle VDC of Okhandhunga, Maya is also the first Nepali woman to climb Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Baruntse (7,125 m), Pumori (7,145 m) and Cho-Oyu (8,201 m). The three-time Everest summiteer also became the first Nepali climber to make ascent to Khan Tengri (7,010m) in Kyrgyzstan. She also stood atop Himlung Himal (7,126 m) in the fall season, becoming the first Nepali woman to climb the peak in 2016. She is the former first vice-president of Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Sapkota is the general secretary of the Everest Summiteers Association. Sapkota, who climbed Mt Everest in 2013, had also served as the executive board member of the Nepal Mountaineering Association. Sapkota, who hails from Sunapati in Ramechhap district, has also been awarded with the Sagarmatha Medal in 2021.

Managing Director at Encounters Nepal Pvt Ltd. Rishi Prasad Nepal has been actively involved with the environmental group KEEP- Kathmandu Environmental Education Project - for over a decade. He is also involved in different tourism-based organizations such as Nepal Mountaineering Association and Trekking Agents Association of Nepal.

The recipients of the awards were announced during Republic Day last year.