From seven summits to South Pole

Kaamya Karthikeyan celebrated as the youngest female climber in the world to complete the Seven Summits is now setting her sights on a new frontiermdashthe South PoleAt just 16 she made history by summiting Mt Everest and completing the Seven Summits challenge She is now determined to become the youngest person globally to achieve the Explorersrsquo Grand Slam a feat that includes scaling the tallest peaks on all seven continents and skiing to both the North and South PolesSouth Pole expedition to be flagged off in MumbaiOn Friday November 28 2025 Kaamyarsquos South Pole expedition will officially be launched by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani at the iconic Penguin Enclosure at the Byculla ZooThe ceremony will mark the beginning of Kaamyarsquos journey to Antarctica where she will embark on a 120kilometre ski traverse as part of her larger goal to complete the Explorers Grand Slam by April 2026The flagoff event is expected to be attended by notable personalities and fellow adventurers all of whom celebrate Kaamyarsquos courage and dedication to pushing the limits of human exploration Her journey represents more than just an adventuremdashit is a powerful message that Indian girls are breaking stereotypes and achieving the impossibleKaamyarsquos Message to the World No dream is too bigThrough her Mission SAHAS Kaamya has become a beacon of inspiration for youth worldwide demonstrating that no goal is too ambitious and no dream too farreachingEighteenyearold Kaamya Karthikeyan daughter of Commander S Karthikeyan of the Indian Navy and a student at Shiv Nadar University Noida is a mountaineering prodigy In December 2024 she unfurled the Tricolour on the summit of the highest peak in Antarctica completing the Seven Summits challenge at just 17 years of age She is also the youngest Indian and the second youngest girl globally to summit Mt Everest from the Nepal side at 16 years of ageKaamya now aims to become the youngest person in the world to complete the Explorersrsquo Grand Slam with both remaining challengesmdashthe North and South Polesmdashscheduled for completion by April 2026 at 18 years and nine months surpassing the current record by over two yearsThe South Pole expeditionKaamya will travel to Punta Arenas in Chile the last stop of civilisation from where a charted flight will take adventurers to Antarctica on 18 December They will land on the Blue Ice Runway of Union Glacier The expedition team of seven skiers will then take another fivehour flight to 89deg South from where their 12day ski traverse will begin Kaamya will cover 120 km pulling a 60 kg sled carrying all expedition logistics before reaching the South PoleSocial impact and recognitionThrough Mission SAHAS Kaamya has reaffirmed that Indian girls are breaking stereotypes and becoming trendsetters Her journey has received wide coverage in print broadcast and television media inspiring millions The Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised her in Mann Ki Baat encouraging Indians to embrace adventure Kaamya has also received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Shakti Puraskar the highest national award for citizens under 18 along with numerous other accolades for youth empowerment and adventureAwards and felicitations2020 Mention in Mann Ki Baat by the Prime Minister2021 Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Shakti Puraskar Merit Certificate from Flag Officer CommandinginChief WNC Felicitation by Chief Minister of Maharashtra2022 Commendation Medal by Director General National Cadet Corps2023 Women Achieverrsquos Award Arya Group of Colleges Global Kids Achievers Award2024 Invited as State Guest for Republic Day Parade Felicitation by the Prime Minister of Nepal on Everest Day Felicitations by Governor of Maharashtra Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Commendation Medal by Chief of Naval Staff Star Icon of India ndash Kalam Nambikkai Virudugal2025 Invited for Presidentrsquos Reception 26 Jan Future Female Forward Icon by CNBC TV18 National Youth Icon Award by HiTech Group Rotary International Vishwa Shikar Seva Ratna at DISCON 25 Woman Achiever Award Inner Wheel Club of Mumbai Felicitation by National Centre for Polar amp Ocean Research Jagdish Nanavati Award The Himalayan Club Tenzing Norgay Excellence Award at Himalayan Conclave Community Star Award RBL Bank Sports Excellence Award 2025 Calcutta Chamber of Commerce Young Achievers Award 2025 Rotary Club of Madras EastKaamya has also been invited as a speaker at numerous national and international events TV shows and forums championing youth empowerment adventure and the narrative of a progressive India