Hong Kong mountaineer Tsang Yin Hung, widely known as Ada, has set a new women’s speed record on Mt. Manaslu (8,163 meters), reaching the summit from base camp in 18 hours and 53 minutes. The achievement adds to her growing reputation as one of Asia’s most accomplished high-altitude athletes.
According to Dukpa Sherpa of Pioneer Adventure, Ada began her summit push at 6:03 p.m. on Monday and reached the peak at 12:56 p.m. Tuesday. The climb was part of a joint expedition organized by Dreamers Destination Treks & Expedition and Pioneer Adventure, with support from elite Sherpa climbers and international weather advisors.
Ada, 50, became the first woman from Hong Kong to summit Everest in 2017 and later led China’s first all-women’s team to the top in 2019. Despite her record-setting pace, she emphasized that her motivation was personal growth rather than accolades. “Speed climbing helps me test and sharpen my abilities,” she said after returning to base camp.
A Team of Elite Climbers
Ada was accompanied by Sherpa brothers Phurba Tenjing and Nima Gyalzen of Rolwaling, both renowned for their mountaineering achievements. Phurba, who completed the climb without supplemental oxygen, has summited Everest 17 times. Nima has scaled all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks, placing him among an elite group of global climbers.
The Sherpa siblings come from a family that holds a Guinness World Record as the only family with eight Everest summiteers, underscoring the depth of experience and legacy behind the expedition.
Despite facing nausea and stomach pain during the ascent, Ada continued her climb with the support of Phurba and Nima. The team’s resilience and coordination were key to the successful summit, particularly given the unpredictable conditions on Manaslu.
Technical Support and Weather Coordination
The expedition received weather support from Italian climber Davide Peluzzi and UK-based Rojita Buddhacharya, who provided real-time updates to guide the summit window. Accurate forecasting is critical for speed ascents, where timing and safety margins are tightly managed.
Ada’s record comes amid ongoing scrutiny of previous speed claims. A 2022 ascent by Taiwan’s Grace Tseng, who reported a 13-hour summit of Manaslu, faced controversy due to a lack of verifiable evidence. Ada’s climb, by contrast, was documented by multiple expedition partners and timed from base camp to summit.
Everest Record Holder
Ada also holds the women’s speed record on Everest, completing the climb in 25 hours and 50 minutes in 2021. That ascent broke the previous record set by Nepal’s Phunjo Jangbu Lama in 2018. Lama reclaimed the title in 2024 with a time of 14 hours and 31 minutes, setting a new benchmark for speed climbing on the world’s highest peak.
Ada’s latest achievement on Manaslu reinforces her status as a leading figure in high-altitude endurance climbing. Her approach, which blends technical skill with mental discipline, continues to inspire climbers across Asia and beyond.