KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 14
The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) today grandly welcomed and felicitated eight Nepali record-holding climbers upon their arrival from Tibet, China.
The eight climbers, including NMA's 2nd Vice President Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, who made history as the first Nepali female to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters after conquering Mt. Shishapangma just last week returned to Nepal this morning via Lhasa.
In an extraordinary feat, 18-year-old, Nima Rinji Sherpa, became the youngest person in the world to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters. Likewise, Nirmal Purja has become the fastest to scale all 14 of the 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. He has also completed 50 summits of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000 meters.
Mingma G. Sherpa has also successfully summited all the world's 14 peaks above 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen. However, he skipped today's grand welcome, as he is currently in Indonesia to climb Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid).
Tejan Gurung, the first person from his community to complete all 14 peaks, along with Pasang Tendi Sherpa, Dawa Gyalje Sherpa, Pasang Nurbu Sherpa, and Mingtemba Sherpa, who all completed their ascents of the 14 peaks, were also warmly welcomed and felicitated.
All the record-holding climbers were received at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) by the President of NMA, Nima Nuru Sherpa, Senior Vice President Thakur Raj Pandey, General Secretary Mohan Lamsal, Secretary Dhan Bahadur Gurung and other dignitaries. They were subsequently taken to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) at Bhrikuti Mandap in an open jeep via Tinkune, Baneshwor, where the Honorable Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, on behalf of the NMA, extended felicitation to all the climbers with NMA khadas, bouquets, and garlands.
"A Welfare Fund for the Mountaineers Will Be Established Soon"
Minister Pandey affirmed to establish a welfare fund for mountaineers. During the felicitation program today, he stated, "I know that all the climbers have put their lives at risk for the sake of Nepal's pride. I would like to assure you that this government will leave no stone unturned to recognize each and every climber's contribution. A welfare fund will be established soon."
The Minister also assured that the government would promptly work to revoke the decision to designate certain areas of Nepal as restricted.
Previously, the President of the NMA Sherpa and other dignitaries have stated that the Nepalese government has not worked as promised in various instances.
"This is akin to winning a gold medal in an Olympic competition. Our climbers undertake all this hard work solely to elevate Nepal's fame globally as the home of the bravest mountaineers," President Sherpa added. "However, the government is failing to live up to its own commitments. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that the current government will work in favor of Nepal's mountain tourism and mountaineers, as Minister Pandey and Dr. Narayan Prasad Regmi, Director General of the Department of Tourism, are very positive regarding our issues."
DG Dr. Regmi stressed that the Ministry and Department of Tourism are committed to best serving the Nepali tourism community while complying with regulations.
On behalf of all the honored climbers, Nirmal Purja and Nima Rinji Sherpa expressed their gratitude to the organizers and everyone who gathered at TIA and the program venue to welcome and congratulate them. Purja also mentioned that he had not received adequate support from government agencies to promote Nepal's adventure tourism.
"I worked hard on my own and launched various projects to elevate Nepal's adventure tourism globally. I contacted and convinced high-level tourists to visit Nepal and enjoy its adventure offerings," he added.
"However, the government didn't grant permission for skydiving and other activities. This is the bitter truth, and such gestures from responsible agencies will not support our mountain tourism."
He also expressed his hurt feelings over comments from people questioning his Nepali identity. "I have recently received an NRNA card. How could you say that I am not Nepali?" Purja questioned.