Indian climber Satyarup Sidhantha holds a photograph that shows him on Mount Everest, along with what he says is an altered version of the same used by a couple to make it appear they were on the summit. Bikas Das / AP
Indian climber Satyarup Sidhantha holds a photograph that shows him on Mount Everest, along with what he says is an altered version of the same used by a couple to make it appear they were on the summit. Bikas Das / AP
Indian climber Satyarup Sidhantha holds a photograph that shows him on Mount Everest, along with what he says is an altered version of the same used by a couple to make it appear they were on the summit. Bikas Das / AP
Indian climber Satyarup Sidhantha holds a photograph that shows him on Mount Everest, along with what he says is an altered version of the same used by a couple to make it appear they were on the summ

Climbers’ tall claim


  • English
  • Arabic

Résumé “embellishments” have long been a matter of concern for employers, prompting them to conduct background checks on job applicants. Meanwhile, mountaineers have generally been taken at their word when they claimed to have climbed a particular peak. These two worlds intersect when it comes to Mount Everest, which since the advent of commercial expeditions has become not just a climber’s goal but also one for aspiring business executives’ CVs.

Nobody should be surprised that some people make false claims of climbing Everest. Consider Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod, whose claim to be the first Indian couple to scale the world’s highest peak is now being investigated, following suggestions that photographs of their feat have been digitally altered. What are we losing as a society when mountaineering claims are subjected to the same scrutiny as academic achievements?

Company profile

Name: Steppi

Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic

Launched: February 2020

Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year

Employees: Five

Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings

Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.

“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.

RACE CARD

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m

The Bio

Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees  (oats with chicken) is one of them

Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.

Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results

During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks

Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy

Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it