Pune: Jitendra Gaware, who has successfully scaled Mount Everest and seven other eight-thousanders, and Mingma Sherpa, who has successfully scaled Mount Everest eight times, were honoured with IMF gold medals at a special function organised by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) in Delhi.
The function was attended by India’s most successful mountaineers and IMF life members. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation, the apex national body for mountaineering-related adventure sports in India, has honoured them for the year 2025-26. Jitendra Gaware was presented with the gold medals by IMF President Col. Vijay Sinha, while Mingma Sherpa was presented with the medals by IMF President Smt. Harshwanti Bisht.
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation Gold Medal is an award instituted in 1961 to recognize outstanding Indian mountaineers for their outstanding achievements in high altitude and technically challenging climbs as well as their contribution to the promotion of mountaineering. The award consists of a gold-plated silver medal and a citation and is presented at the IMF’s Annual General Meeting. The medal honours Indian citizens including Sherpas who have shown remarkable skill and dedication in the field of mountaineering. So far, many eminent mountaineers and Sherpas like Tenzing Norgay, Nandu Jayal, Sonam Gyatso, Major John Dias, Captain MS Kohli, Nawang Gombu have been honoured with this gold medal.
Jitendra Gaware has so far successfully climbed Mount Nun (7000 meters), Cathedral Peak (6000 meters), Mount Kanchenjunga (8586 meters), 2018: The world’s third highest peak, Mount Ama Dablam (6812 meters), Mount Annapurna I (8091 meters), 2021: The world’s tenth highest peak, Mount Everest (8848 meters), 2021: The world’s highest peak, Mount Manaslu (8163 meters), 2021: The world’s eighth highest peak, Mount Lhotse (8516 meters), 2022: The world’s fourth highest peak, Mount Dhaulagiri (8167 meters), 2023: The world’s seventh highest peak, Mount Makalu (8485 meters), 2025: The world’s fifth highest peak. Along with this, Jitendra is the first climber from Maharashtra to have scaled three 8,000m peaks in Nepal and seven 8,000m peaks in Nepal in a single season, which shows his dedication and passion for mountaineering.
Mingma Sherpa, a resident of Darjeeling, has successfully climbed the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, eight times. He has also successfully climbed the eight-thousanders of Nepal, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and the technically difficult peaks of Ama Dablam and Pumori. Along with this, he has climbed many technically difficult peaks in the Indian Himalayas, such as Meru, Manda, Noon, Koon, Satopanth, Indrasan, Kamet. On all these peaks, Mingma Sherpa has also guided many climbers for their climbs.
Under the guidance of Umesh Zirpe, a senior mountaineer of Giri Premi Sanstha, Jitendra Gaware has paved his way in mountaineering till now. Along with this, Dr. P D Patil, Vice Chancellor of DY Patil University, has provided valuable support to Jitendra for his expeditions.
“Both these mountaineers have been honoured for their invaluable contribution to the adventure sport of mountaineering over the past several years and for promoting this adventure sport worldwide through the media. The unparalleled achievements of both Jitendra and Mingmaya in the field of mountaineering are acknowledged and their honour will surely inspire budding mountaineers in the field of mountaineering.”
