"Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind," said former US track and field legend and triple Olympic gold medallist Jacqualine Joyner-Kersee.

These words are firmly etched in the mind of Malaysian mountaineer N. Elanghovan, who at the age of 64, will attempt to climb Mount Everest in two months' time.

If he succeeds, Elanghovan, who's better known as Elango, will be the oldest among the two dozen Malaysians who have summitted the world's highest mountain, which stands at a majestic 8,849 metres.

"Age is not a factor. It is the mind that we need to conquer. We need to have a positive mindset to achieve our goals, no matter how big or small they are.

"I believe I can realise my lifelong dream," Elango told national news agency Bernama.

Born and raised in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, the hilly terraces and jungles are Elango's forte.

According to him, he is used to going for walks in the forests and mountains in his hometown to cut wood, among other activities.

The former Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) employee took optional retirement seven years ago to focus on mountaineering, and making it to the top of Mount Everest is among the dreams that Elango have always wanted to materialize.

For the record, Elango is a member of the "Keluarga Malaysia-Everest Expedition 2022" led by two-time Everest climber T. Ravichandran, which will leave for Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 25. The team will then make their way to the Everest Base Camp in early April, to train and acclimatise to the high altitude and extreme weather conditions, before attempting to summit in May.

Elango had prepared for the Everest climb in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic had postponed his plans for two years.

He has previously climbed Island Peak (6,189m), Everest Base Camp (5,360), Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m), and Mount Kalapathar (5,643m), all in Nepal, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Tanzania, Africa, and Mount Fuji (3,776m) in Japan, said the report.

Good luck on your bold attempt sir. Wishing you all the best to succeed in your venture and make your family, and the country proud.


Source: Bernama
Photo source: Bernama via Astro Awani