Nepali replaces Japanese as oldest to climb Mt. Everest+

KATHMANDU, Nov. 22 Kyodo -
Nepali climber Min Bahadur Sherchan has replaced Japanese climber Yuichiro
Miura in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest man to climb Mt.
Everest.

Sherchan climbed the 8,848-meter peak on May 25 last year at the age of 76
years and 340 days. But Miura, who climbed the peak two days later at the age
of 75, was given the recognition by the records book as Sherchan failed to
furnish necessary documents to back his records claim.
In February this year, Miura's office in Tokyo showed a media outlet a
certificate from Guinness World Records that gave him the title.
Sherchan, who had since then been trying to have his accomplishment recognized,
told Kyodo News on Sunday that the mistake has been rectified.
A certificate given to him by Guinness World Records reads, ''The oldest man to
climb Mt. Everest is Min Bahadur Sherchan (Nepal b. 20 June 1931) who reached
the summit on 25 May 2008 at the age of 76 years 340 days.''
Surendra Sapkota, a government under-secretary at the Mountaineering Division
under the Tourism Ministry, confirmed the recognition.
Sherchan will announce the recognition Monday evening in Kathmandu when he will
hold a press conference that will be attended by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar
Nepal.
''There were some lapses from my side. The mistake could have been prevented
had I submitted all the necessary documents in time,'' Sherchan told Kyodo
News. ''I am thankful that the mistake has been corrected.''
Sherchan beat the record set by another Japanese climber, Katsusuke Yanagisawa,
who climbed the mountain in 2007 at the age of 71. Miura had set the record in
2003 by climbing the mountain at the age of 70.
==Kyodo