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Everester Min Bahadur Sherchan has sought clarification from Guinness World Records (GWR) after the latter recognised Japanese national Yuichiro Miura as the oldest person to have scaled Mt Everest, the world's tallest peak. Sherchan shot to fame as the oldest Everester after the historic ascent to the tallest peak on May 25. National and international media had covered his feat and the government recognised Sherchan, who was 76 years old at the time of record-breaking ascent, as the oldest Everest summiteer.
Though Sherchan had submitted documentary evidence of his achievement to the GWR through the government, the GWR recently recognised a Japanese mountaineer, Yuichiro Miura, as the oldest person to have climbed the peak. At the time of the ascent, Miura was 75.
“I will challenge the GWR decision to recognise Miura as the oldest Everester,” Sherchan said. “The record book should explain to me why it did not recognise me as the oldest Everester.”
On Friday, Sherchan visited the and Foreign Affairs to inquire about the reported recognition of Miura as the oldest Everester.
Officials told him they had forwarded documents related to his expedition to the GWR on time and that officials from the record book had said they had received the documents.
Thursday’s AFP report, however, said the title had gone to Miura as Sherchan had failed to submit required documents.
Sherchan suspected that government bodies might not have sent relevant documents on time. “I hope they stand by me this time,” Sherchan said.
Despite objections from family members, Sherchan had climbed the mountain at great risk to his life. “No one supported him but he said he was ready to face death to set the record,” her daughter Nirmala said.
The daredevil said climbing Everest was his wildest dream. “I did it to make the nation and senior citizens proud,” he says, adding that he had been harbouring that dream since childhood.
Interestingly, according to Sherchan, Miura had congratulated him after he scaled the peak two days before the Japanese citizen.
“I will do my best for recognition as the oldest Everest summiteer and hope to receive support from authorities concerned,” he said. “I will continue my campaign for peace even if my bid becomes unsuccessful.”
