Arunima Sinha is world’s 1st female amputee to scale Antarctica’s highest peak

Parasports January 4, 2019

Yet again, Arunima Sinha has made India proud. This time the gritty mountaineer has scaled Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.

Arunima took to the social media to share her achievement that comes after days of struggle. Vinson is a tough peak to climb given the ice and cold winds.

On Twitter, Arunima said,

The wait is over we are glad to share with you The world record world’s 1st woman amputee who climbed Mount Vinson (highest peak of Antarctica) has become to the name of our country India Thank’s to all for their blessings and pray Jai Hind. – Arunima SInha, Amputee climber

Praises have come pouring in. Among the first to congratulate her was para swimming champion Mohammed Shams Alam Shaikh.

“I met Arunima in 2014 at a conference in Mumbai and she told me how she lost her leg and I was shocked and inspired at the same time to see a woman of her strength and determination. She is an exceptionally inspiring and positive woman with an undying spirit. She has proved to the world that when God takes away something from us, we can get the strength from within to do the impossible. She is an excellent example for the other women and girls of our country to aspire and fight for their dreams.”

A national-level volleyball player, Arunima was left disabled after she was pushed out of a moving train in 2011 by a gang of robbers that she confronted. She suffered massive injuries and one of her legs had to be amputated from below the knee.

Her volleyball career ended but not her passion for outdoor sports and physical activity, and Arunima took up mountain climbing.

With this latest achievement, the Padma Shri awardee has scaled six peaks. The others are Everest, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Kosciuszko in Australia, Aconcagua in Argentina, and Elbrus, highest mountain in Europe.

Before she left for Antarctica, Arunima had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave her the Indian tricolor to carry to the top of Mount Vinson.

Prime Minister had also tweeted about her and said, “India is proud of Arunima’s accomplishments and her fortitude inspires us all”.

Way to go Arunima, India is proud of you!

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