KATHMANDU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Veteran Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa successfully summited Mount Qomolangma for a record 32nd time on Sunday, extending his own mark for the most ascents of the world's highest peak, while his compatriot Lhakpa Sherpa reached the summit for the 11th time to set a new women's record.
According to a press release issued by Nepal's Department of Tourism, Kami Rita, 55, reached the 8,848.86-meter summit at 10:12 a.m. local time.
"Based on information received from the department's field office at Qomolangma Base Camp, the ascent was completed while leading an expedition organized by 14 Peaks Expedition," the department said.
His closest competitor is Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who has reached the summit of Mount Qomolangma 29 times.
Kami Rita first summited the world's highest peak in 1994 and has since become one of the most celebrated figures in global mountaineering.
Also on Sunday, Lhakpa successfully summited Mount Qomolangma for the 11th time, setting a new world record for a female climber, according to Nepal's Department of Tourism.
The 53-year-old reached the summit at 9:30 a.m. local time, the department said in a statement. ■
