Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports24-August, 2006 16:17 IST
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards announced

Government of India instituted the National Adventure Awards (renamed as Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards) in 1993, with the aim of promoting adventure activities on Land, Air and Water.  These Awards are at par with the Arjuna Awards and carry a cash Award of Rs. 3.00 lakhs, a bronze statue and a scroll of honour.  Up to the year 2004, 63 Adventure Awards have been given:-

           

            The objectives of the Awards are:-


i.         To    recognize    the  achievements   of persons in   the  fields of

          adventure.

ii.                   To encourage young people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk taking, cooperative teamwork and quick, ready and effective reflexes in challenging situations.

iii.                  To provide incentive to the young people for getting exposed to the adventure activities.

For consideration of Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for 2005 nominations were called for from the State Government, Adventure wings of Army, Navy, Airforce, ITBP and other reputed Adventure Institutions.  24 nominations were received by the Government for the above awards.

            The Members of the Central Selection Committee for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2005 met on 11.8.2006 to select the Awardees.

           

The following persons have been selected for conferment of Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for the year 2005:-

2005

1.   Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh       (Land Adventure)

2.   Ms. Shital Kamalakar Mahajan      (Air Adventure)

3.   Comdr. Mukul Asthana                  (Water Adventure)

4.   Shri Nawang Gombu                    (Life Time Achivement)

            Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards, along with the Arjuna Awards and other Sports awards, will be given away by the President of India in a function at Rasthrapati Bhawan on 29th August, 2006.

            Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards, 2005

Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh

Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh (Born: May, 1969), of the Indian Army, has attained an outstanding position in the field of mountaineering as summiteer of Mt. Mana (7273m) in 2000, Mt. Everest (8848m) in 2001, Annapurna I (8091m) in 2002, Lhotse(8516m) in 2003 and Kanchenjunga (8586m) in 2004. He is the first Indian to scale four peaks of more than 8000 M.  He also contributed immensely to the success of Army Women Everest Expedition in 2005. He is a recipient of Shaurya Chakra in May, 2001. Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh has displayed exceptional skill, leadership, team spirit, courage and dedication in pursuit of adventure and is a source of inspiration to the younger generation of the country.

Ms. Shital Kamalakar Mahajan

Ms. Shital Kamalakar Mahajan (Born: September, 1982), has displayed outstanding spirit of adventure, determination, endurance, courage and risk-taking capacity by undertaking the daunting feat of static line parachute jump over the Geographic North Pole on 18th April, 2004, from 2400 feet, in minus 37 degree celsius, temperature condition, as a member of the Expedition “Arctic-2004” Team.   She was awarded the Shivchhatrapati State Sports Award in 2004-05 by Government of Maharashtra.  Her spectacular achievement would serve as a source of inspiration to the younger generation in the country.

Comdr. Mukul Asthana

Commander Mukul Asthana (Born: October, 1962), commanded the INS Tarangini from February 2004 to July 2006 during the first ever circumnavigation voyage undertaken by the Indian Navy. During his period of command, the ship spent 384 days at sea, traversing over 40,000 miles through the challenging waters and waterways of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, the Arabian sea, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, the perpetually rough English Channel, Bay of Biscay and the North Sea, and negotiated rough seas with wave heights of 8 to 10 metres and wind speeds in excess of 65 knots. Under his command the ship also participated in the International Tall Ships’ Races 2005 held between Ireland and France and U.K. and Norway, and was awarded the Royal Thanes Yacht Club Challenge Cup for being the best newcomer to the Races and also the Smartest Crew Trophy for overall professional conduct and competence.

Shri Nawang Gombu

Shri Nawang Gombu (Born: May, 1936), has had a long and distinguished career during which he has exhibited rare determination, skill, courage and devotion to the cause of mountaineering.  Some of his notable achievements include scaling of Mount Everest in 1963 and 1965, Saser Kangri II in 1955, Nanda Devi in 1964,  Mont Blanc (France) in 1966, Mt. Rainier (USA) in 1973, Mt. Mckinley, Alaska (USA) in 1978, and participation in a large number  of  other mountaineering expeditions. Through his personal achievements, vast experience and knowledge gained through specialized training in India and abroad, he has made outstanding contribution, not only to the success of expeditions, but also towards the nurturing and development of talent in mountaineering and adventure.      

He has won a host of national and international awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, Howard Medal of the National Geographic Society, USA, the IMF Gold Medal, the Arjuna Award and the prestigious Padmashree and Padmabhushan.   

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(Release ID :20213)