JACQUELIN Kaur, the six-year-old daughter of former national athlete Melinder Kaur, is the youngest Malaysian to reach the 17,598 feet (5,364m) high Everest Base Camp (EBC).
Jacquelin, accompanied by a team of trekkers including Melinder, completed the expedition from the Lukla starting point to EBC (Sept 10-14). The descent took them another two days, bringing the total distance in the one-week adventure to 130km. She broke the record set by Lee Min Qi in 2016.
Timesport does a Q & A with Melinder.
Q: Congratulations to you and Jacquelin! How did you feel when Jacquelin made it to the Everest Base Camp?
A: I'm filled with immense pride and satisfaction. Jacquelin, at just six years old, successfully reached the world's highest base camp. Through the training programme and guidance I curated, she has achieved something not everyone can. We didn't do prior treks to Mount Kinabalu. Instead, we stuck to weekly hikes at places like Bukit Gasing and Broga. In my view, no level of preparation can fully prepare you for the challenge of trekking to the EBC. It's about more than just physical fitness, it's also about mental resilience. As parents, we can lay a strong foundation for our children, and they might surprise us by reaching remarkable heights. Neither my husband nor I are trekkers, but I used my athletic experience to prepare Jacquelin in every way for this journey. I hope her achievement serves as an inspiration to adventurers worldwide.
Q: What were the most challenging elements during the expedition?
A:The stretch from Lobuche to EBC was the toughest because of the rocky path along the edge of the Khumbu glacier. We also faced flight cancellations due to bad weather and cold temperatures. Jacquelin braved the cold, wearing five layers of clothing in temperatures ranging from minus two to minus three degrees Celsius. Thankfully, our regular exercise and precautions meant we didn't suffer from mountain sickness. We didn't rest or acclimatise, but we maintained a slow and steady pace, kept hydrated, and refrained from taking medications.
Q: At any point, did Jacquelin complain of tiredness or feel like giving up?
A:Whenever Jacquelin felt tired, we would stop and rest. The trail to EBC is challenging with its hanging bridges, raging rivers, dense forests, and waterfalls. The frequent ascents and descents on the rough, rocky, and rugged terrain added to the difficulty. However, I believe trekking to EBC teaches people about determination and patience. Jacquelin possesses a high level of cardiovascular fitness, thanks to the regular cardiovascular and strength training exercises she does with me. She never once mentioned wanting to give up. Along the way, she delighted in seeing animals such as mules, yaks, sheep, cows, chickens, and dogs. These sights, combined with the snacks I packed, like granola bars, chocolates, crackers, and dry cereal, made the journey enjoyable for her. To keep her engaged, we played games, shared stories, and sang songs together. Her excitement was evident throughout the trek.
As a former army officer, I've acquired the skill of mental toughness, which allows me to persevere through obstacles to fulfil a mission. I fully understood that for a six-year-old, trekking to EBC is no small feat. But with my experience, I was there to support and guide her every step of the way. Caring for a child while on such a trek is undoubtedly exhausting. Each night, I would give Jacquelin a light massage to alleviate her sore muscles and help her relax after a strenuous day.
Q: Could you give a breakdown of the journey taken each day and highlight which day was the hardest and why?
A: I'm glad Jacquelin coped well despite challenges like bad weather, flight cancellations, sweltering days, and chilly nights. We flew to Kathmandu on Sept 8. We were scheduled to fly to Lukla on Sept 9, but our flight was cancelled due to adverse weather. We finally reached Lukla, the starting point and gateway to the base camp trek, on Sept 10. From there, we made it to the base camp five days later, on Sept 14, and began our descent the same day. We covered a distance of 130 kilometres in just seven days, aided by a qualified guide and two porters. Our route took us from Lukla to Phakding, followed by Namche Bazaar. From Namche Bazaar, the trail led us to Pangboche, then Tukhla, and finally to the EBC at 5,364m.
Jacquelin is an incredibly active child who adores walking and playing. Even after reaching the base camp, she was bursting with energy. The trek is undeniably challenging due to its high altitude. Many trekkers often experience difficulty breathing, headaches, loss of appetite, and even acute mountain sickness. Thankfully, neither Jacquelin nor I had any of these symptoms, despite not acclimatising for a single day. I had rigorously trained Jacquelin for this demanding high-altitude trek. Our preparation included daily runs of seven to eight kilometres, stair climbing, wall climbing, cycling, and circuit exercises.
Q: What Jacquelin achieved is undoubtedly impressive. Will you encourage her to pursue more records, perhaps even conquering Mount Everest itself?
A: If she shows continued interest and responds well, then we might consider planning for the Mount Everest summit. I'm prepared to train alongside her if needed. However, summiting Everest is still some way off due to age restrictions. Climbers must be between 18 and 75 years old to attempt it. I will evaluate Jacquelin's strengths and weaknesses, as well as her capabilities and talents, to determine if she has the potential to attempt other unique national records in the future.
Q: Earlier there were some negative comments from netizens, suggesting it was too dangerous for a six-year-old girl to attempt such a record. Some felt you shouldn't have allowed it. How do you feel about this?
A: I've seen the concerns raised by numerous netizens regarding my daughter's expedition. First, I genuinely want to thank everyone for their concern about Jacquelin's safety. I assure you that our decision wasn't taken lightly and her well-being was always our top priority. There's inherent risk in many things we do daily - whether it's walking, driving, or other activities. But I allowed my daughter to undertake the EBC trek because I wanted to nurture her resilience, determination, and curiosity. Every decision we made took into account her best interests, her capabilities, and her readiness.
Q: Would you take this opportunity to thank those who supported this expedition?
A: I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Malaysia Book of Records for giving us the chance to attempt this record and raise funds for a worthy cause. My thanks also go to KL Wellness City for sponsoring Jacquelin with RM10,000, which she generously donated to both the Orphan Care Foundation and World Vision Malaysia Assistance Fund, allocating RM5,000 to each. I'm grateful to Datuk Dr Bains of Bainsphysio for sponsoring Jacquelin's treatment, to Datuk Pretam for his instrumental support, and to Mr Prakash Aryal, the Managing Director of Himalaya Sunrise Treks & Expedition Pvt. Ltd. They are a premier travel and tour agency in Nepal and were responsible for organising our expedition. Last but certainly not least, I extend my deepest appreciation to my husband Charanjit Singh, and to all my family and friends for their unwavering support.