5-YO from Punjab is youngest Asian to scale Kilimanjaro; 102-YO Britain's oldest skydiver: Age is just a number

It was quite the weekend of new records and impossible feats it seems. There were two people, on either end of the age scale, who broke records proving age is immaterial in the end and a thrill-seeking attitude is all you need to win. Teghbir Singh, a five-year-old from Ropar, Punjab, became the youngest Asian to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, 102-year-old Manette Baillie took the plunge on her birthday to become Britain's oldest skydiver.

Meet five-year-old Teghbir Singh, the youngest Asian to scale Mount Kilimanjaro

Credit: The New Indian Express | In April 2024, Singh made it to Everest Base Camp

What were you doing when you were four years old? While you try hard to remember that, Teghbir Singh was preparing to scale the highest mountain in Africa. Singh started his journey on August 18, 2024. On the way he dealt with altitude sickness and minus 10 degrees Celsius temperatures, but keeping one foot in front of the other, he marched on and finally reached Uhuru Peak on August 23, 2024.

It's not like he just woke up one day and decided to scale a peak on the second-largest continent. By April 2024, Singh had also left his footprints at the Everest Base Camp.

But imagine someone taking on a challenge this huge. Even the toughest adults find their knees buckling with the very thought of scaling peaks under extreme conditions. But for this five-year-old, studying in grade 1 at Shiwalik Public School in Ropar, Punjab, there was only one thing that kept him going: chanting Waheguru.

Singh was coached by Bikramjit Singh Ghuman, and accompanied by his father Sukhinderdeep Singh, people he credits his success to. "We stayed in temporary tents and took the Machame Route to reach the summit in 6 days. Due to bad weather and fierce snowstorm the summit push was cancelled and we had to return mid way. They reached the summit in their second attempt," his father Sukhinderdeep Singh told the media.

According to reports, both father and son are scheduled to return by August 30.

All about 102-year-old Manette Baillie who became Britain's oldest skydiver

Credit: Goldster via bbc.com | Ms Manette has served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War 2

On her 102nd birthday, on August 25, Manette Baillie jumped off a plane at Beccles Airfield and went on to create a new record. The Suffolk resident told BBC Radio 4 that the breath left her "breathless."

"It was a bit scary," she gushed. "I must admit I shut my eyes very firmly."

But don't be fooled. Ms Manette was once married to a paratrooper and has herself served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War 2. That somewhat explains her unmatched attitude and adventurous spirit although Ms Manette admits she has "no idea."

So what made her decide she wanted to ring in her birthday with the daring plunge? "If an 85-year-old man can do it, so can I," she said talking about a friend's father who had skydived at the time, something that made her want to try it too.

According to BBC, the record was previously held by Verdun Hayes who was 101 and 38 days at the time of taking the plunge in May 2017.

What are your thoughts on this? Hit us up in the comments section below and let us know.

Lead image credit; L-R: The New Indian Express; UK Parachuting Services Ltd/Goldster via bbc.com

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