On the morning of, as India celebrated National Sports Day, a six-year-old girl etched her name into the record books. Thevaky B. Rajkumar, a Class 1 student from Tambaram, Chennai, successfully rappelled down a 155-foot rock cliff in Malaipattu, Tamil Nadu, while blindfolded.
In a breathtaking feat of courage, Thevaky completed the blindfolded descent in just four minutes and thirty-two seconds. Her remarkable achievement has been certified by the Asia Book of Records, India Book of Records, and The Noble Book of World Records, all of which have recognized her as the youngest girl to perform a blindfolded rock rappelling feat from that height.
Thevaky’s journey into mountaineering began as a way for her to overcome a fear of nature. What started as a confidence-building exercise quickly blossomed into a passion. Her father, Rajkumar S.P., said the family has always supported her, emphasizing that her safety was the top priority. The record attempt was conducted under strict medical and safety supervision, with a mini-hospital ambulance on site.
The timing of her accomplishment was especially poignant, as it coincided with National Sports Day, a tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. The day’s theme, “One Hour on the Playground,” encouraged young people to step away from gadgets and embrace outdoor activities. Thevaky’s fearless descent became a powerful metaphor for a young nation ready to conquer new heights and embrace new sporting frontiers.
Her feat also highlights the immense and largely untapped potential for adventure sports in India, a country with diverse mountain ranges and a growing interest in alternative sports. With sport climbing set to be a core discipline at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, achievements like Thevaky’s are a beacon of hope for India’s sporting future, fueling the nation’s Olympic dreams for 2036.
