Meet Captain Harpreet Chandi, first Indian-origin woman to trek solo to South Pole

Captain Harpreet Chandi, an Indian-origin British Sikh Army officer, has scripted history by completing a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole. Chandi announced her history-making feat on her blog at the end of Day 40 after travelling 1,127 kilometres while pulling a pulk or sledge with all of her kit and battling temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of around 60mph.

British Sikh Army officer and a physiotherapist, Harpreet Chandi has created history by becoming the first woman of Indian origin to complete a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10

She announced her feat on her live blog after after travelling 700 miles (1,127 kilometres) at the end of Day 40 while pulling a pulk or sledge with all of her kit and battling temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of around 60mph. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10

“I made it to the South Pole where it’s snowing. Feeling so many emotions right now. I knew nothing about the polar world three years ago and it feels so surreal to finally be here. It was tough getting here and I want to thank everybody for their support. Day 40 – Finished,” reads her blog. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10

Harpreet also uploaded a live tracking map of her trek and also posted regular blogs of her journey to the snow-capped region. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10

As part of a Medical Regiment in the northwest of England, Chandi’s primary role is to organise and validate training for medics in the Army as Clinical Training Officer. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10

Based in London, Harpreet is pursuing her higher studies at Queen Mary’s University in London and had dragged around two large tyres over the past few months for her polar training as a substitute for the heavy sledge she has been dragging along in Antarctica. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10

Chandi says she has always been keen to push the human body to its limits and sees her latest mission as part of this wider research. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10

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Harpreet also used her time during the trek to think about wedding plans for when she returns to England. She has been engaged to Army reservist fiancé David Jarman before setting off on her expedition. The couple is expected to be reunited in Chile when she returns from the South Pole in January-end. Credit: Twitter/@PreetChandi10