Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Polar Preet claims fastest solo Antarctic skiing record

In January last year, she completed a trekking challenge to become the first Indian-origin woman to set the record of a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole

Polar Preet claims fastest solo Antarctic skiing record

BRITISH SIKH army officer and physiotherapist Captain Harpreet Chandi, known as Polar Preet for her Antarctic expeditions, has claimed a new world record for becoming the world’s fastest woman to complete a solo South Pole ski expedition.

The 33-year-old took to her blog on Sunday (31) to update that she had completed the solo unsupported 1,130 km expedition in just over 31 days. This will now be verified by ‘Guinness World Records’ and could then become her third world record after two record-breaking Polar feats already under her belt.


“Sooooo… I did it again… just a little faster,” writes Chandi.

“I came back to Antarctica this year but without letting the world know in advance. and completed another solo unsupported expedition from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole but with a very specific goal… This trip was a bit different for me, I honestly didn’t know if I would be quick enough but thought I’ll do everything I can and let’s see,” she said.

As part of her latest solo Antarctic expedition, Chandi set off from Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf on November 26 and arrived at the South Pole on Thursday (28). On average, she was skiing around 12 to 13 hours a day, pulling a 75kg sled, which contained everything she needed to keep going on the tough terrain.

“My expedition was a female speed record, I completed the solo unsupported 1,130km expedition in 31 days, 13 hours and 19 minutes. I have applied for the GWR (Guinness World Record) and awaiting confirmation,” she said.

“It does not belong to me alone. It belongs to everyone that helped me get here. It is ours. I’m sure I will not hold the record for long and will happily help the person who beats it."

As someone who is now very familiar with the continent, Chandi describes Antarctica as an “incredible place” to be.

“This is my third season in a row and I still feel as though I’m dipping my toe into an ocean… It is a place you treat with respect and hope it allows you safe passage. Thank you Antarctica for keeping me safe,” she said.

In January last year, she completed a trekking challenge to become the first Indian-origin woman to set the record of a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole, travelling 1,397 km across Antarctica in temperatures as cold as minus 50 degrees celsius. The previous record was 1,381 km, set by Anja Blacha in 2020.

However, she was disappointed that she did not have enough to meet her original aim of becoming the first woman to cross Antarctica solo and unsupported.

“This year was tough after attempting and not completing a big trip in Jan 2023. It took me a while to recover and I didn’t think I would come back out again this season. And then that little thought came into my head,” she reflects.

It was around four years ago when she was learning about Antarctica that she decided she wanted to do a crossing of the continent. However, she did not put in her application to the Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions (ALE), which handles the permissions for such expeditions, immediately because she wanted to build up some experience before setting off on her record-breaking missions.

Chandi has always been keen to push the human body to its limits and sees her adventures as part of this wider mission. As an “endurance athlete”, she has run marathons and ultra-marathons and, as a British army officer, completed large-scale exercises and deployments in Nepal, Kenya and a UN peacekeeping tour of South Sudan.

(PTI)

More For You

India told to prepare for deadly rise in temperatures

The country can expect more heatwave days this year

India told to prepare for deadly rise in temperatures

INDIA can expect hotter-thanusual temperatures this summer with more heatwave days taking a toll on lives and livelihoods, the weather office warned.

The country is no stranger to scorching summers, but years of scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tower Hamlets secures funding to save domestic abuse support jobs

The planned strike action was called off after the external funding was secured

Tower Hamlets secures funding to save domestic abuse support jobs

Ruby Gregory

REDUNDANCY proposals which would have seen job cuts made to a ‘crucial’ domestic abuse support service in Tower Hamlets have been called off.

Solace Women’s Aid, which planned to make cuts, confirmed last Friday (28) the redundancies were no longer going ahead, following a boost in external funding which followed a threat of strike action.

Keep ReadingShow less
Report reveals Birmingham’s doctors face racism and bullying
Absences have risen at the Queen Elizabeth and Heartlands Hospitals in Birmingham, as well as Good Hope in Sutton and Solihull Hospital

Report reveals Birmingham’s doctors face racism and bullying

Gurdip Thandi

YOUNG doctors in Birmingham hospitals face a ‘shocking’ number of incidents of bullying, racism and sexism from patients and other staff.

The Medical Academy Annual Report was presented to a University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust board meeting, which revealed the data.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former police officer arrested in Rotherham investigation

Investigators believe the earlier offences happened between 1995 and 2002 (Photo for representation: iStock)

Former police officer arrested in Rotherham investigation

A FORMER police officer has been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse in Rotherham, authorities revealed on Tuesday (1).

The former constable, who is in his 50s, was taken into custody on Monday (31). He is suspected of raping a teenage girl in the South Yorkshire town in 2004, according to officials.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi Xi

Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping during their meeting in October 2024.

75 years of India-China relations: Modi, Xi call for stronger ties

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping exchanged messages on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations.

Modi stated that the development of bilateral ties contributes to global stability and a multipolar world, while Xi called for a "dragon-elephant tango" to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Keep ReadingShow less