Samya Maulik Panchal, just a 12-year-old girl from Ahmedabad, Gujarat has already attained what many teenagers only dream of when they were that young. Born on April 16, 2012, Samya’s pursuit of adventure sports is utterly inspiring – it’s about the determination and discipline she has towards her goals and the everyday sacrifice with support of her family, encouraged her to break barriers, set records and to let the world know that age is just a number. She completed the Everest Base Camp trek at the age of nine and also became the youngest person in the world to finish the grueling Chadar Trek at 11.
Samya’s involvement in adventure sports, started at a young age. Unlike most children of her age who spend their time engaged in monkey bars and in regular school activity, Samya Maulik found herself pulled to the outdoors. Influenced by her parents, she developed a love towards trekking and mountaineering.
At age of nine – she achieved a pivotal milestone, completing the Everest Base Camp.
Located in Nepal, Khumbu region with an altitude of 5,364 meters (17,598 feet), EBC is the most renowned and has the most challenging experience on Earth. Offering the best views of Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest.
Covering this feat as a child was not an easy task, as it requires patience, adaptability, and mental endurance. She mentions, “I am the youngest being from Gujarat to complete the Everest Base Camp. And I know this experience has boosted my confidence to take on any challenge. And this laid the foundation of her remarkable journey in trekking.”
On one side her parents were proud but on other her they were also concerned about her health but her success in Everest Base Camp was proof that she had both the physical capability and mental resilience to tackle greater challenges in future.
Samya Maulik: Youngest to Conquer the Challenging Chadar Trek
Samya shared that her manifestation to complete the Chadar Trek came to existence in January 2024, and she became the youngest girl to complete the Chadar Trek in Ladakh. It is India’s most challenging and dangerous winter trek. Her journey to Chadar Trek involved walking over the frozen Zanskar River in Leh, Ladakh, with sub-zero temperatures that can go as low as -35-degree Celsius, harsh conditions, including erratic ice formations, strong winds, high altitude terrain.
Most experienced trekkers complete this expedition in 4 to 8 days, but an amazing thing to know that, Samya Maulik completed it in just 2 days and 11 hours (from 17 January to 19 January, 2024). She at an age of 11 years and 9 months, started an unmatchable zeal at the Chadar Trek. She earned herself a place in the India Book of Records, marking her as the youngest girl to complete the Chadar Trek at in such a short duration.
RECITE YOU appreciates the achievement of Samya Maulik. It’s because even experienced trekkers find the Chadar Trek backbreaking. Many adults are unable to complete their journey due to altitude sickness and hypothermia. Yet, Samya completes it in a short period of time in such a young age.
She is also passionate about strength training. In this age many youngsters give priority to watching and spending time in tv shows, social media where Samya risked herself into weightlifting. Her ability to deadlift 85 kilograms in strength training in one of her biggest achievements. Her personality screams versatility as she has excelled herself in entirely two different fields, mountaineering and strength training. She is a well-disciplined, well rounded self-enthusiastic child of her parents.
Listing Samya challenges faced during her journey as failure is a part of life, if you don’t fail, you don’t learn, if you don’t learn, you’ll never change. Mental toughness – These kinds of sports are not only physical battle but also mental battle. Harsh conditions on treks can break even experienced trekkers. Staying mentally strong while dealing with every happening is not an easy task. Her determination and confidence helped her to manage her academics, yoga, and strength training.
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No athlete can achieve success without support, her family has played a pivotal role in her journey. Instead of restricting her to customary activities, both her father and mother encouraged her actively. They recognized her unique potential and provided her with right guidance, resources and training. Many children who are blessed with talents, fails to pursue their dreams due to lack of their parenteral support and financial issues. Samya is fortunate to have a family who believes in her abilities and has invested in her passion. The confidence through which she shines is given by her parent’s unconditional support and love.
In future, Samya might set her sight on higher peaks such as Mt Kilimanjaro or Mt Everest, to expand her Mountaineering goals. She might explore other strength-based competitions and push higher weight in deadlifting.
Samya experiences and learning is truly inspirational, as she is a symbol of determination, resilience, and hard work. Whether you’re a child or a teenager, you have the freedom to explore your interests, set high aspirations, take risks, and pursue great things without waiting to grow older. Samya inspires young minds to dream big, push their limits, stay dedicated, and never give up. Lastly, RECITE YOU would love to highlight the fact that youth is a time for unbounded imagination and possibility, so there’s no age limit on striving for greatness.
