Nepal Police Assistant Sub Inspector and karate athlete Kunjang Chopel Sherpa successfully climbed Mount Everest on Monday, becoming the first female officer from the force to scale the world’s highest peak, according to police officials.
Kunjang Chopel Sherpa reached the 8,848.86-metre summit at 8:56 a.m. local time, Nepal Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Ramesh Thapa said.
Currently posted at the Women and Children Directorate under the Nepal Police Headquarters, Sherpa undertook the climb to raise awareness against violence targeting women and children, Thapa said.
The Inspector General of Police, Deepak Thapa, congratulated Sherpa in a statement issued on social media, saying: “Heartfelt congratulations to ASI Kunjang Chopel Sherpa for successfully summiting Mount Everest.”
Sherpa’s achievement comes during a busy spring climbing season. More than 500 climbers, including Sherpa guides, have reached the summit so far, according to the Department of Tourism. Sunday alone saw at least 135 climbers make the final push during a narrow window of favourable weather.
The Nepal government issued 468 permits to foreign climbers this year, including 86 women and 382 men from 47 teams. Indian climbers hold the largest share with 87 permits—most of whom are members of Indian security forces—followed by the United States with 83, and China with 68.
She also took a photograph of Mandeka Ji Shrestha, a double gold medalist at the 13th South Asian Games (SAG), to the peak.
Kunjang Chopel Sherpa is the first female police officer from Nepal to accomplish this climb. She also proudly unfurled a banner with the message: “End Violence Against Women and Girls!”
Her achievement highlights the strength of sports, women’s empowerment, and Nepal’s karate legacy on the world’s highest mountain.
