Arunima Sinha, who was amputated below the left knee two years ago, top-ropes a climbing wall while training at the Asian Trekking climbing wall in Kathmandu on March 28. Sinha has become the first female amputee to climb Everest.

IANS/New Delhi

Federal Sports Minister Jitendra Singh yesterday congratulated Arunima Sinha for climbing the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, the first female amputee to do so.

Sinha, a former national-level volleyball player, lost her right leg after being thrown off a moving train two years ago.

“Congratulations for having scaled the Mount Everest. This incredible achievement shows your sheer grit and indomitable courage against heavy odds. Your efforts and achievements show that a physical handicap is not a deterrent to achieve greatest heights and glory. This will be a source of inspiration to athletes not only from India but from across the world. Wish you many more successes in life,” the sports minister said in a statement.

Two years ago, Sinha, 25, was shoved from a moving train by thieves when she reportedly attempted to fight them off as they tried to steal her purse.

A passing train crushed her left leg, forcing doctors to amputate below the knee to save her life.

“At that time everyone was worried for me. I then realised I had to do something in my life so that people stop looking at me with pity,” Sinha told TV channels before leaving for the climb.

Meanwhile the governments of Manipur and Mizoram will felicitate members of the first Northeast India Top of the World Mount Everest Expedition, 2013, who recently scaled the highest peak of the world, officials said.

“The Manipur government has decided to give Rs10 lakh (Rs1mn) each to the team leaders and members of the expedition for scaling the highest peak of the world,” a Manipur government official told reporters in Imphal.

According to the official, the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has also said that Rs500,000 would be given to expedition team member David Zohmangaiha.

“Another person from Mizoram, Vanllaliana, who is from the state’s sports and youth services department and served as the base camp manager, would be given Rs3 lakh,” a Mizoram government official said.

Both Zohmangaiha and Vanllaliana would be given a grand reception by the Mizoram government after their arrival in the state, the official added.

The team, comprising 13 climbers from the country’s northeast region, was flagged off by President Pranab Mukherjee from Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 20. Members of the expedition made it to the top of Everest on May 18.