Hyderabad boy who scaled Kilimanjaro at 7 sets his sights on Mt Everest

HYDERABAD: Telukunta Virat Chandra made headlines in 2021 when, at just seven, he became one of the youngest in the country to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro. The Trimulgherry boy, now 11, was later conferred the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar and became only the third person from Hyderabad to receive the prestigious award.While the feat was remarkable in itself, Virat is just getting started. Barely four feet tall, he now dreams of standing atop Mt. Everest. "My goal is to climb the seven highest mountain peaks on the seven continents," he said.Virat's interest in mountaineering wasn't self-driven at first. It was a video call with his cousins in December 2020 that sparked the urge. "One day, while having lunch, I got a call from my cousins who were at Mt.

Rudugaira in Uttarakhand. I was mesmerised by the view and instantly wanted to experience it myself. That's when I decided I wanted to climb mountains," Virat recalled.

Since then, there has been no looking back. After Kilimanjaro in March 2021, he scaled Mt. Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak, in 2024. Under the guidance of Boots and Crampons, one of India's top mountaineering companies, Virat underwent rigorous training-4:30 am runs of 7-8 km, strength and conditioning drills, and breathing exercises at Moula Ali Fort.

"It was tough at first, but I got used to it quickly," he said.His next target is Mt Elbrus in Russia, which he had to abandon in 2022 due to harsh weather. "Virat is a happy child, but when he came back from Elbrus, he cried like I'd never seen before," said his mother, Madhavi. Virat plans to attempt Elbrus next year before joining the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi to prepare for Everest. "Climbing Everest will be a very different challenge.

The training and technical expertise required are much tougher.

I also need to wait until I turn 16, as the rules say. But I I know I can achieve it," he said.His father, Sharath Chandra, who has accompanied him on every expedition, says the family will back him all the way. "We're scared about the risks, but we won't let our fears hamper his dreams," he said, appealing for govt support. "Just as funds are given for cricket and football, mountaineering needs encouragement too. I've written to our MLA to raise the matter with the sports minister, and we hope funds will be allocated.

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