iSport crowns India’s youngest mountaineer Krushnaa Patil the 'Athlete of the Month' for February 2010. Read on to know about her 7 Summit Quest and the peaks that she has successfully climbed!
At iSport we believe in encouraging not only the sports that are mainstream but also non-mainstream ones. We believe that this is our initiative to create the right attitude and awareness for sports in India. Mountaineering surely is a challenging yet adventurous sport. There have been several successful mountaineers in the past. Here is an example of a young, spirited and lively Indian who has scaled to newer heights!
India’s youngest mountaineer Krushnaa Patil is going places! This 19 year old is currently on a 7 Summit Quest which essentially means that she is attempting to climb the 7 tallest peaks in all 7 continents! She has successfully completed her missions in Asia, Africa, South America and the recent climb to Antarctica’s highest peak Vinson Massif. Climbing in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, she will soon leave for her fifth expedition! We at iSport truly believe that this enthusiastic girl deserves to be crowned ‘Athlete of the Month’ for February 2010.
The Interview
iSport: How did you choose mountaineering as your profession?
Krushnaa: Well I can say that the mountains chose me! I knew I always wanted to do something out of the box. I wanted to be a dancer and choreographer and honestly haven’t really given that thought yet. But somehow despite my other interests I was addicted to the mountains! Fortunately I got the chance to participate in an expedition to Satopanth and that was the turning point! Mt. Everest was the next logical step. I was simply hypnotised by the magnetism of these mountains! And then there was just no turning back!
iSport: Who encouraged you to take this up as a profession?
Krushnaa: I’d have to say again that it was the Mountains themselves! And of course my instructors. Their passion was so contagious that I was one of the easiest to get infected!
iSport: You have achieved so much at such a young age. Who is your role model?
Krushnaa: My role models change from time to time but my constant role models have been Chacha Nehru, Indira Gandhi and the heroines of Ayn Rand’s books. But I must mention that just before Everest climb my role model was Rihanna! She was on the top of the music charts at 18 years of age and I had thought to myself that hey, I should also be on the "top" somewhere!
iSport: Your source of inspiration?
Krushnaa: My inspiration is that I want to put India on a global map in the field of mountaineering. Even though it was an Indian who was one of the first to climb Mt. Everest and the first Indian women to climb Everest was way back in 1984, internationally there is nothing that India has really contributed to or participated in. That’s what inspires me.. to put India up there!
iSport: What role has your family played in your success?
Krushnaa: My family has been my greatest support! They have always believed in me and allowed me to fulfil my dreams. Just knowing that they believe in me so much gives me strength during the weak moments I have in my isolation.. especially in the mountains.
iSport: Any physical / mental training sessions that you undergo?
Krushnaa: Yes very much! Both physical training and mental training sessions are taken at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, during the basic, advance and search and rescue courses.
iSport: Tell us about the 7 peaks you've decided to climb? How did that come about?
Krushnaa: I decided to do the 7 Summit Quest when I was on Everest. And to be the first Indian woman to undertake the 7 Summits is an added bonus. This quest is not just about climbing but also about climbing in different countries and understanding different cultures. It’s about taking Indian mountaineering on a global platform. This attempt has been an enriching and a great learning experience.. more than I would have ever learnt in any classroom!
iSport: What was the toughest moment while climbing the Everest or the climb in Antarctica?
Krushnaa: Antarctica was a more recent climb and the whole summit day had been one of the toughest days! We had an Antarctic storm, temperatures went below -50 degree Celsius and the winds were making it difficult for us to even walk! 10 meters below the summit we were trying to decide whether we should go ahead or turn back as the weather kept deteriorating!
iSport: When you think it's tough or difficult or seems impossible; what keeps you going?
Krushnaa: When I did my training in NIM we were told many stories of mountaineering, stories of bravery and survival that I am still amazed with what keeps me going. All the experiences I’ve had or all the situations that I’ve been in so far have been much more than the stories I have heard. So then I tell my self that I can do this..It’s not that bad!
iSport: Tell us more about your Antarctica adventure!
Krushnaa: The Antarctica experience has been the weirdest but the most exciting expedition I have done so far! Through out the time that I was in Antarctica it was day, the sun moved in an oval and we never felt tired because the sun never set! The flight that we took from Chile to Antarctica was a Russian plane called the Ilyusium that lands on blue ice! It’s a fascinating machine and has a glass bubble at the nose. As far we could see it was the white ice and sometimes we even lost the horizon. Then it was difficult to tell where the earth ended and the sky started! I’d say if u can’t afford the ride to the moon…go to Antarctica!
iSport: What is it like to live out in the biting cold?
Krushnaa: It is really bad! I’m not very good with tolerating cold temperatures so I have a hard time! But once you get numb it doesn’t matter. And it’s all in the head. You have to mentally feel warm.
iSport: What is your most memorable experience as a mountaineer?
Krushnaa: During my Satopanth expedition we walked back from Vasu ki Taal to Gaumukh and it was snowing half the way down and raining in the latter half. Our bags were drenched, we were drenched and when I tried to take my 25 kg bag off my shoulders they were stuck! I couldn’t move my shoulders at all! I was stuck and I literally cried in pain! My teammates helped me change my clothes. I still remember that moment when I stayed in darkness with a candle burning in the kitchen tent hiding my tears from the rest of the team.
iSport: What's in store now? What should your fans await?
Krushnaa: The completion of my 7 Summit list. I have three more continents to cover namely Europe, Australia and North America. Post this I will concentrate on the book that I have been writing that talks about my Everest expedition. This will be followed by my 7 Summit book.
iSport: Your message to iSport readers
Krushnaa: I’d like to say two things. First and my sincere appeal to everyone is to try and control our garbage and its disposal for the sake of cleanliness. Second, I’d say that if you are interested in any sport, even if it isn’t popular or mainstream, just go for it! Make your mark in what you love. Because it’s time things change and passion will stand out. And trust me, things will change.
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a guest
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... Patil is wrong in saying that India has not contributed anything to mountaineering internationally. The first man to climb Everest twice, the first woman to climb Everest twice, the youngest woman to climb Everest (in 1993 - the record stood for 10 years), the only men to climb Everest from 3 sides (record unbroken), the only women to climb Nanda Devi (record unbroken) -- does all this mean nothing to her? And, even if she becomes the first Indian woman to do the 7 Summits, she will not be the first Indian. |
Asif Khan
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... @comment2 Seems like a targetted attempt at maligning the site  Did you even know the name of the Athlete before we published about her? oh you probably think Cricket is the only sport in the world and Sachin is the only cricketer. Go dear get mommy to sing lullabies for you and sleep at home, such kind of information is beyond your level of comprehension. |
Asif Khan
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... @comment1 In a country where athletes and sports person are so starved of any kind of mileage and attention that they do get carried away and make some claim which might be a bit off the truth. We being a country of people who are at best ignorant of all kinds of sports, hopelessly argue about everything and never take any action, I am with the athlete here, who has taken the pain to actually do something and make the country proud. |
Kunal Shah
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... Thanks for clarifying your stance Asif. Likewise I agree that there is some stupid attempt to malign your website. However, pay no heed to these hypocrites! Keep iSport-ing! @ the Comments 1 & 2 - your comments and views are welcome. There are chances that the reports have gone a lil bit wrong - but hey, what's with not making mistakes, its only to keep learning. iSport is attempting to change the way sport is viewed and absorbed in the country, if you don't like it - in our free yet wired world, you are free to go elsewhere for your sporting information!! |
Nupur Gadkari
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... Oh! Mr. 'Guest'.Let me begin by saying what a pleasure it was to interview a daring 19 year old like Krushnaa. The passion and conviction that she talks with and speaks of the mountains as her friends are something you can probably never imagine. No wonder you feel all 'cribby crabby' :-) Instead of pulling out a few statements, it's better if your view isn't myopic but you actually see it on a broader scale and then you will maybe realise that it takes guts and tremendous will power to attain what she is attaining. So here's a suggestion buddy, iSport with the right spirit or keep whining! Else the Cribby Crabby you will need help.. and I'll send you handkerchiefs to blow your nose for free! :-) We're proud of you Krushnaa! Keep soaring high! We need Indians LIKE YOU! Cheers! |
a guest
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... To be honest Asif such a puerile reaction is not at all surprising. I just read the pop-up message when I logged into this site today. This site claims that its strength is analysis. Well let me tell you dear friends, analysis requires a deep understanding of the subject, background knowledge, researching the facts the old-fashioned way i.e. spending long hours pouring over authentic information, filing it away in the head and the ability to connect the dots, just to name a few. Now coming to your very pointed point "Did you even know the name of the Athlete before we published about her?", my reply is that perhaps you guys didn't know, that doesn't give leeway to assume that others, who are on the ball didn't know. Talking of me, I knew of her attempting 7-summits long long time back simply because I keep a tab. It's commendable that Ms Patil is trying to be first Indian woman to attempt the seven summits, but when you people interview a subject, you should have necessary background information so that wrong claims can be counter questioned. That's what professional journalists are trained to do. That's what I do. (That's a clue...  ) Obviously, the interviewer in this case hadn't done his homework. Talking of pleasure of interviewing, it must have been... Secondly, Ms Patil's claim "the first Indian women to climb Everest was way back in 1984, internationally there is nothing that India has really contributed to or participated in" is extremely offensive in light of some of most scintillating achievements of Indian mountaineers. Its a terrible slight of the achievers before her. Asif, I wonder before posing the rhetoric if the writer of the comment even knew the athlete or not before her GREAT story was published here, did you bother to find out any of the names of the people who achieved the things mentioned in comment 1. Guess not. ...Just a teaser for all of you who feel SO VERY OFFENDED by comment 2, including Neo, can you just get the name of the first person in the world to climb Everest twice. (He is an Indian...Head for wiki guys)...Find out that then I'll let you jokers on other clues...have fun...i am having for sure...And yeah Neo, your reaction is so Indian ...saab chalta hai...this site is prime example of appalling standards of journalism... |
a guest
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... hahaha...well said guest for comment 2...iSport = ignorant sport  ....Asif just because India is a nation of hopeless underachievers...does it give any media forum to get away with wrong information/claims...how self serving! |
Kunal Shah
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... Ah! Don't I love this comment Mr. Guest. Its about one purist being annoyed and pissed off at others venturing into his / her territory!! Is it? Let me tell you we're not - its an attempt to simplify sport. Attempt to glorify achievements. Attempt to break through the clutter that most pro-journos maybe are not allowed to do so - either lack of passion or Edit control. That is exactly what iSport is out to break!! The article might have a bits of info that could be counter claimed - but lets not leave it to this site alone. There are enough 'corrigenda' that leading dailies too have and ever so often. The site offers fans a chance to get up close and personal with their athletes - and the fan based content can be questioned. I am guessing the fans don't do as good a job as you do - but they're doing enough to promote the athlete and their achievements. However, humbly I would add that its feedback that we will give back to our passionate fans! Thank you kind Sire! :-) |
Asif Khan
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... I don't know what you are trying to prove here, that we are ignorant and don't represent the best breed of journalist in the country? and that you are some kind of great journalist who is trying to save the profession from disgrace? Well I am not a journalist, none of us are journalists. We represent a much more special category, the fans! You live on us and not the other way around. I always hated purists in every field, they never served any good to anyone. They argue for the sake of argument, to show of their level of knowledge and are very fond of what I call as "Intellectual masturbation" I will want to know your qualification as a professional journalist and your achievements too. Come forward with a name, we will not harm you. Believe me, I am loving the criticism. The simpler way would have been to just delete your comments and ban your IP and existence from the site, but we will not do that. Show us what you got. If you got real suggestions for improving the site come up with them. If you just hate our existence because we do not follow a special pure breed of journalism which involves reporting who slept with whom and who was seen where day in and day out, which is exactly most of you journalist do anyway. Then you can keep on ranting every single day on the site and we will stop bothering to respond. |
a guest
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... How very convenient Neo! Instead of accepting the mistakes, one turns around and comes up with this hairbrained logic of territory in repose to a question of authenticity of information that this site is disseminating... it can't get lamer than that. If this is not a journalistic endeavour...then how come you pin designations like 'motorsports' editors et al...As for your comment about "lack of passion or edit control" once again the ignorence shines through...look beyond the TOIs, HTs ans Expresses, you will see the gems...anyway I have had my fun...By the way you have quite a few plagiarists who have been highly designated on this site...I love it...  |
a guest
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... Asif the suggestion is really simple....it doesn't matter if one is professional journalist or just a fan...do your research properly before putting out any information in the public domain....as for the suggestion...put up a banner on the site...that disclaims..."OUR INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS ARE INACCURATE"...loved the threat of banning the IP....woohoooo... |
Asif Khan
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... He he he, call it a threat or whatever you like. Sometimes web admins have to take note of spammers and ban them and I will be fully in my rights to ban the likes of you lot. I can clearly see an agenda here which is to malign the site by making false claims. My simple question is who are you? What are your credentials? What gives you the rights to claim the information on this site is inaccurate? If you were only concerned about the veracity of the content, you could have simply raised it without making grave accusations. I do not see any good intent but malice in your accusations and what has stopped me from blocking you till now is the belief in the freedom of the medium. I give you a day to come up with some credentials and material to substantiate your claims, either through email or in comments which you seem to love so much. In the absence of any such material, appropriate action will be taken. |
a guest
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... Asif..it certainly gets even more hilarious..." give you a day to come up with some credentials and material to substantiate your claims, either through email or in comments which you seem to love so much. In the absence of any such material, appropriate action will be taken..." you got to be joking mate...anyway..carry on nattering... |
a guest
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... mr. guest. in all my humbleness...i did not mean any disrespect to any of our great indian climbers....all of the ones you have mentioned....i only meant that when i have travelled abroad....in mountaineering circuits...internationally indian climbers are not known....senior mountaineeres have done extraordinory feats that have not been recognised.....my attempt is for indian mountaineering to come on a global map......i want every girl or boy intrested in mountaineering...to dream to do the 7 summits...people who are not even serious mountaineers....just do it as a hobby... abroad are 7 summitteers and in india even when we have the maximum part of the himalayas and our mountaineers have climbed some of the most technically advanced peaks have ONLY ONE 7 SUMMITEER.....even if it was an INDIAN who first climb everest....i think we can do much better....much higher......over the world......when i go on international expeditions and see people doing such intresting summits all oer the world....i feel like a deprived mountaineer......even if our country has the talent......the first man to do the 7 summits from india.....malli mastan babu....did it in 2006....53 years after the first indian to climb everest.....he thoght of this.....and he went ahead and did it......by him self......no government....no IMF....no mountaineering institutes.... u must have imagined the wrong tone in my writing.....i have grown up learning and loving mountaineering through jai bhaguna and harsh bhagunas climbs,the nanda devi expeditions....i know their struggle....and i wouldnt even dream of insulting any one of them..... i dont know wht exactly you guys are fighting about....i wasnt giving any statistics....i just meant that internationally....on a global level there is a lot of work WE..as indian mountaineers can do..... i hope i have clarified your point....... and ...fyi.....i dont care that i wont be the first indian....i would have been prouder to be the 50th.....only if they had all gone international much before....it would have been much easier for me today!!! let good energies fly around here.....its SPORTS!! cheers!! |
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