Chennai Teen Nisha Sasikumar Becomes Youngest Woman to Scale Everest via Nepal's South Col Route
Chennai, June 2, 2026: Sixteen-year-old mountaineer Nisha Sasikumar from Chennai has etched her name in the record books by becoming the youngest woman in the world to successfully summit Mount Everest through the South Col route from Nepal. Nisha achieved the feat at the age of 16 years and 80 days, reaching the world's highest peak on May 25, 2026.
The young climber completed the ascent as part of an expedition organised by Elite Exped and is currently descending safely from the mountain. Throughout the challenging expedition, she was supported by experienced Sherpa guides Tenji Sherpa, Phura Dorji Sherpa and Phursang Sherpa.
Born in Chennai in March 2010, Nisha's accomplishment is being hailed as a landmark moment for Indian mountaineering. By conquering the 8,848.86-metre Mount Everest, she joins an elite group of the world's youngest climbers to have reached the summit.
Reflecting on her achievement, Nisha described the experience as life-changing. “Standing at the top of the world felt surreal. In that moment, I realised that the biggest limitations are often the ones we place on ourselves. This journey taught me the importance of resilience, preparation and believing in yourself even in the toughest conditions,” she said.
Her father, Sasikumar Gendham, expressed immense pride in his daughter's achievement. “It has been an incredibly proud moment for our family to watch Nisha take on such immense challenges with courage and determination. She pushed beyond her limits, stayed committed to her goal and proved that belief and perseverance can make the impossible achievable,” he said.
Nisha's Everest expedition began on April 15, 2026, when she arrived at Lukla from Kathmandu. The journey involved an eight-day trek to Everest Base Camp, followed by weeks of acclimatisation, technical training and rotational climbs through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall to Camps 1, 2 and 3 before the final summit attempt.
The Everest climb forms a crucial part of Nisha's ambitious quest to complete the prestigious Seven Summits challenge, which involves scaling the highest mountain on each continent. Since April 2025, she has successfully summited Mount Elbrus in Europe, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Kosciuszko in Australia, Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania, Aconcagua in South America and now Mount Everest in Asia.
Adding to her growing list of accomplishments, Nisha became the youngest female climber to summit Carstensz Pyramid in October 2025, a record that was subsequently recognised by the India Book of Records.
With six of the Seven Summits now completed, Nisha is preparing for her next major challenges. She is scheduled to attempt Denali, North America's highest peak, in June 2026 and Vinson Massif in Antarctica in November 2026, bringing her closer to completing one of mountaineering's most celebrated achievements.
Her remarkable journey has inspired young adventurers across the country and stands as a testament to determination, discipline and the pursuit of extraordinary goals.
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