ROPAR, June 30 — In a remarkable feat of endurance and determination, six-year-old Teghbir Singh from Ropar has become the youngest person in the world to scale Mount Elbrus—Europe’s highest peak at 18,510 feet (5,642 metres)—located in Russia’s Caucasus Mountains.
Teghbir began his trek on June 20 and reached the summit on June 28, braving temperatures of -10°C and using crampons, harnesses, and oxygen support to complete the journey. A certificate issued by the Mountaineering, Rock Climbing and Sports Tourism Federation of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic recognized his record-setting ascent.
“It is to certify that Teghbir Singh from India is the world’s youngest summiteer on Mount Elbrus at the age of 6 years, 9 months and 4 days,” the certificate reads, breaking the previous world record set by Maharashtra’s Wagah Kushagra, who summited at the age of 7 years and 3 months.
Teghbir, a Class 2 student, said the trek was both exciting and challenging. “I was walking for the first time on snow. My shoes were heavy but I had practiced it back,” he said.
His father Sukhinderdeep Singh, who accompanied him on the expedition, shared that Teghbir had trained for nearly a year under Bikramjit Singh Ghuman, a retired coach who focused on improving the boy’s cardiovascular strength and lung capacity to combat altitude sickness.
“He used to go on weekly treks with me and the coach to different hilly terrains. It was the first time he was walking in snow with high boots and gear weighing 3–4 kg extra on his feet,” said Sukhinderdeep, who works as an administrator at a Ropar hospital.
The family noted that Teghbir not only adapted to the harsh environment but also stayed at high altitudes in low oxygen conditions for nearly a week—an extraordinary accomplishment for a child his age.
His mother Dr Manpreet Kaur, a gynaecologist, emphasized the importance of preparation and discipline. “Diet played a major role in his journey. He followed a strict schedule laid out by his coach to ensure physical readiness,” she said.
This isn’t Teghbir’s first record-setting climb. In August 2024, he became the youngest Asian to scale Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, earning recognition from both the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records. He also trekked to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal in April 2024.
With three continents already under his belt before turning seven, Teghbir is quickly building a legacy as India’s youngest mountaineering prodigy.
