A nine-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh has conquered Africa’s highest peak — Mount Kilimanjaro — on February 25.
Kadapala Rithvika Sri from Anantapur, a girl of class 2 from Andhra Pradesh, climbed to Gilman’s Point at 5,681 metres above mean sea level, Africa’s highest peak, with her father and guide. With this achievement, Rithvika is now one of the youngest persons to scale the mountain, located in Tanzania, reported NDTV.
Mt Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano, is the highest single free-standing mountain in the world at 19,340 feet. Gilman’s Point is one of the three summit points of Mt KilimanjaroGilman’s Point is one of the three summit points of Mt Kilimanjaro, and climbers able to reach this point receive the official Kilimanjaro climbing certificate.
The New Indian Express, Rithvika’s father, Kadapala Sankar, is a cricket coach and sports coordinator in the Special Olympics Bharat wing of Rural Development Trust, Anantapur. Last year, he had conquered the peak and decided to take his daughter along this year.
Applauding the young girl’s achievement, IAS officer Gandham Chandrudu tweeted: “Congratulations to Ritwika Sree of Ananthapur for becoming the world’s second youngest& Asia’s youngest girl to scale Mt Kilimanjaro. You have grabbed the opportunities despite many odds.Keep inspiring.”
Congratulations to Ritwika Sree of Ananthapur for becoming the world’s second youngest& Asia’s youngest girl to scale Mt Kilimanjaro. You have grabbed the opportunities despite many odds.Keep inspiring@ysjagan #APGovtSupports#AndhraPradeshCM#PowerofGirlChild pic.twitter.com/Xu8LZw8OVz
— Gandham Chandrudu IAS (@ChandruduIAS) February 28, 2021
Mr Chandrudu had helped the girl and her father by releasing ₹ 2.89 lakh from the SC Corporation funds for the expedition.
Before beginning her journey to conquer Kilimanjaro, Rithvika participated in Level 1 training at the Rock Climbing School in Telangana and Level 2 training in Ladakh.
“Rithvika Sri took part in the mountaineering expedition with enthusiasm and she could make it in her first attempt,” her father said.
