Qobin conquers South Pole, becomes Grand Slam Explorer

PUTRAJAYA: Qobin has done it! The national explorer, Muhammad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin who is fondly called Qobin, conquered the South Pole and has become Malaysia's first Grand Slam Explorer.
He reached the South Pole at 4.05 pm on Wednesday (11.05 am on Thursday in Malaysia).
Qobin, 36, claims the Grand Slam Explorer title which is awarded when one finishes climbing seven highest peaks on seven continents and explores the North Pole and the South Pole as well.
He conquered the world's seven highest peaks on seven continents between 2004 and 2010 and explored the Arctic in April this year.
By having reached the South Pole, he becomes the first Malaysian, second Southeast Asian and third Muslim and the youngest in the world to be a Grand Slam Explorer, and joins 70 other people who have achieved that feat.
In a satellite telephone call to the expedition secretariat after reaching Point 90 Degrees, Qobin said: "I skied 26km for almost 11 hours to arrive at Point 90 Degrees. I am very happy to have completed my mission.
"I wish to express my thanks to all Malaysians who have constantly prayed for my success in this mission."
Qobin, who set out on the 2017 Malaysia Grand Slam Explorer Expedition through the 7 Continents Exploration Club (KE7B), completed the mission to the South Pole along with six other explorers and a guide.
He had to withstand extreme cold, up to minus 26°C, and the numbness on two fingers of the left hand as he trudged the 111km to Point 90 Degrees with a 50kg baggage.
Qobin said he would spend the night at Point 90 Degrees before proceeding to Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica tomorrow morning.
"I expect to be home in early Jan," he said. — Bernama