How twin sisters from India conquered the world's highest peaks and polar extremes
In short: Tashi and Nungshi Malik are the first siblings to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam and the Three Poles Challenge. Born in Haryana, these record-breaking twins have scaled the Seven Summits and led teams in global endurance races, redefining the limits of human achievement through sheer persistence and international collaboration.
Born on 21 June 1991, Tashi and Nungshi Malik grew up moving across various Indian states due to their father's career as an Indian Army officer. Their path to mountaineering began in 2010 at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. By 19 May 2013, they had reached the summit of Mount Everest, where they famously displayed the flags of India and Pakistan to promote peace. This achievement marked them as the first twin sisters to reach the world's highest peak.
Their climbing career accelerated rapidly. In August 2013, they scaled a virgin peak at 21,000 feet during the Climbathon. By 16 December 2014, after reaching the summit of Mount Vinson in Antarctica, they became the first siblings to complete the Seven Summits together. Their momentum continued as they finished the Explorers Grand Slam on 15 July 2015, a feat they accomplished in just over two years, making them the first South Asians to achieve this milestone.
Beyond mountaineering, the sisters have pursued academic and leadership roles globally. They earned degrees in journalism and mass communication in 2013, followed by a degree in sport and exercise from the Southern Institute of Technology in New Zealand in 2015. Their leadership was further recognized in 2019 when they led the Indian Khukuri Warriors in the Eco-Challenge Fiji, a grueling 671-kilometer race across diverse terrain. Their contributions have earned them numerous honors, including the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2016 and the Edmund Hillary Fellowship in 2019.
The twins' journey reflects a unique blend of athletic rigor and cross-cultural engagement. Whether through their participation in the US Department of State's Global Sports Mentoring Program or their residence in New Zealand, they have consistently bridged geographical and cultural divides. Their record-breaking career remains a testament to their dedication to exploration and their ability to navigate both the highest mountains and the most demanding international adventure circuits.
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