6-year-old Ropar boy sets world record, becomes youngest to scale Europe’s highest peak Mt Elbrus

Hailing from Ropar, six-year-old Teghbir Singh has set a world record by scaling Mount Elbrus located in Russia, which is more than 18,510 feet (5,642 metres) high. Teghbir started the trek on June 20 and walked all along to reach the Elbrus peak on June 28.

To certify that Teghbir was the youngest to conquer the mountain, he received a certificate by Mountaineering, Rock Climbing and Sports Tourism Federation of Kabardino, Balkarian Republic, in Russia. The certificate states that Teghbir Singh from India is the world’s "youngest summiteer on Mount Elbrus at age of 6 years, 9 months and 4 days". 

Elated over the achievement, Teghbir, while talking to The Tribune over phone, said, "When I reached the mountain peak, I got a picture clicked with my father there. It was the first time that I walked on the snow and my shoes were so heavy, but I had done some practice,” said Teghbir, who is a student of Class II at Shivalik Public School, Ropar. 

The previous world record was set by Wagah Kushagra, a native of Maharashtra, who set the world record last year at the age of 7 years and 3 months. 

In August 2024, Teghbir became the youngest Asian to scale Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of the African continent. For this, his name features in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records. 

He had also reached the Mt Everest Base Camp in Nepal in April 2024. 

Delighted over the achievement of Teghbir, his father Sukhinderdeep Singh said, “Teghbir started preparing for this feat almost a year back. He was trained by Bikramjit Singh Ghuman, who used to help him with exercises related to increasing cardiovascular health and increasing lung capacity to deal with altitude sickness. He used to go on weekly treks with me and his coach to different hilly locations. 

He further said that the climb of Mount Elbrus was different as compared to Mt Kilimanjaro and other treks he did before. It was the first time that he was walking in snow with high boots, crampons, harness and oxygen support. It increased the weight on feet by almost 4 kg. He walked and stayed in a low oxygen altitude in a minus temperature for almost a week,” said Sukhinder Deep Singh who accompanied his young son to the mountain peak. 

Teghbir’s mother Dr Manpreet Kaur, who is a gynaecologist, said, “Diet played a major role in his journey and he followed a strict diet schedule made by his coach.”