PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 3: The Fit@50 + Women’s Trans Himalayan expedition, organised by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Fit India banner, and the Indian Army, has successfully completed its 140 days of the expedition.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, felicitated the expedition team at the iconic Major Dhyanchand Stadium in the national capital on August 2.
The union minister said: “This is a big slogan in itself, being fit at 50. The expedition has been inspirational for not just the 50-year-olds in the country but also for everyone in India. What you all have done is remarkable by all means. This is the true power of Nari-shakti.”
The 11-member team comprising women in their 50s and 60s culminated their journey at the Kargil War Memorial on July 24 to commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas. At the memorial, the team paid homage to the war heroes who achieved martyrdom in the 1999 Kargil War. The expedition celebrates India’s 75th Independence Day and is dedicated to the Central Government’s ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative.
This Fit@50+ team was led by the legendary Mountaineer, Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to summit Everest in 1984.
The team consisted of women from various backgrounds such as retired corporate professionals, retired army persons, housewives, retired locomotive drivers, grandmothers, and working women too. While the youngest member is 54 years old, the eldest member is aged 68 years.
According to Bachendri Pal, this expedition aimed to highlight the need to remain fit and show that age is no barrier to living a healthy lifestyle and that 50 or 60 years of age doesn’t mean dreams should be over.
Chanakya Chaudhary, chairman, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation and vice-president, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said: “First of all I would like to congratulate the team on successfully completing the expedition despite numerous challenges. I am in awe of their courage, strength, determination, and indomitable spirit. The objective of this expedition was to raise awareness about health and fitness among senior citizens and to set an example, especially for women that it is possible to stay fit and healthy and to dream big irrespective of age. I hope the expedition will inspire and motivate women of all age groups to include fitness activities in their daily lives to stay healthy. As for TSAF, we will continue to promote adventure sports in the country and inspire generations, through our unique propositioning and sustained endeavours.”
The expedition was flagged off in Delhi on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day by Sujata Chaturvedi, secretary, Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The expedition started from Pangsau Pass (Indo-Myanmar border) and concluded at Dras sector, Kargil in Ladakh, covering a distance of over 4,841 km and traversing 35 high mountain passes in 140 days from East to West of the Himalayas in India and Nepal.
The passes crossed include the toughest Lamkhaga Pass at 17,700 ft height; the most challenging and the highest of the passes, Parang La pass at an astounding 18,300 ft; the Bhabha Pass at 16,000 ft, and the Thorang La Pass at 17,800 ft. Over 50 guest trekkers including 3-4 from outside India joined the expedition for a short duration of 7-10 days at different locations. Among them included a 75-year-old woman who successfully crossed the Lamkhaga Pass.
The FIT@50+ Women’s Trans Himalayan Expedition this year was supported by Tata Sports Club as the fitness partner, TraQ by Titan as the time partner, Vistara as the airline partner, and Tata AIG as the insurance partner. Adventure Worx is the Gear partner, Abaran Jewellers, Suprajit Foundation Atul Foundation, Patanjali and Adukale the ready-to-eat food partner.