Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: She is the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest on five occasions. The mountaineer from Arunachal Pradesh is also the lone woman in the World who scaled the Mount Everest twice in a season. But the highest peak of the world still attracts her. Anshu Jamsenpa, the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award winner, in a conversation with The Sentinel here today admits that she still dreams to go to the highest peak of the world again. Here is the excerpt.
The Sentinel (TS): You scaled Everest five times. Still do you have the same attraction towards the highest peak of the earth?
Anshu: Yes. It would remain the same for entire life. Each time I had gone to scale Everest I had gathered new experiences and those are still intact in my mind. Whenever there is free time I remember those moments and feel great. I would love to go to Everest again and again.
TS: Among the five expeditions, which one was the most challenging for you?
Anshu: Earlier I said that each and every time I had gone to scale Everest I gathered new experience. So it is very difficult to identify the single one. I feel scaling Everest is always a huge challenge and you should remain cautious before putting each step there. You can't take it for granted that your previous experience would help your journey go smoothly when you will start to scale Mount Everest next time.
TS: North East has made good progress in the field of sports. But unfortunately when it comes about adventurous sports the scenario is not so bright. Do you agree?
Anshu: I won't say that changes have not occurred in adventurous sports in the North East but yes I admit the progress is very slow. When I started there were no facilities for adventurous sports in the region. No significant development in this area, even to this day. Most of the persons, who are associated with these sports and have made remarkable performances, hardly get any support from the sponsor. However, a ray of hope is that parents are taking more interest nowadays and they are trying to provide good support to their kids. I am also trying to spread the games and regularly attending different camps which are being organized to develop skill for the mountaineers.
TS: How do you see the chances of Indian contingent in the forthcoming Olympics in Tokyo?
Anshu: I am expecting a good show from the Indian athletes. In the recent past our Government has done a great job when it comes about promoting sports in the country. Even our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has come forward to encourage our Tokyo bound athletes. It's really a good sign for sports in our country. I am hopeful that we will be able to make remarkable performance not only in Tokyo but also in different international meets including Olympics and Asian Games in the coming days.
TS: Any message to Assam boxer Lovlina Borgohain…
Anshu: She has already made us proud by earning a berth in the Tokyo bound Indian contingent. Lovlina is a good boxer and I feel she is capable of bringing a medal from Tokyo. What the boxer now needs is proper concentration towards her bouts in the Games and fight with full confidence.
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