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Xixabangma team begins descent after reaching summit
News 5, News 8, Channel NewsAsia "Singapore Tonight" - 19 May 2002
By Asha Popatlal
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The Xixabangma team that became the first South East Asian team to climb the 8,027m peak in Tibet, alpine-style, without sherpas or pre-laid ropes and camps, has just descended from the summit.

Our reporter spoke to them in their first media interview since coming down from the peak.

That top-of-the-world feeling came after two long years of training and a climb initially filled with trouble as the team was dogged by bad weather and injuries.

Dr Robert Goh, expedition team leader, said: "For the past two years, we've been training almost four days a week and everyone of us worked very hard towards this expedition. The team was confident of making it to the summit at 7,300 metres."

With Dr Robert Goh was also Edwin Siew, an Outward Bound trainer who made it to the top of Mount Everest in another expedition.

Edwin said: "I think climbing a mountain requires the same tenacity and fortitude. The major differences compared doing the two is that we did this alpine style, which means no external help. So, this means the team climbs the mountain with their own technical skill and strength." The team is expected back in Singapore by early June.