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MUMBAI:
Infotainment broadcaster Discovery has announced that it will
produce a programme on the Indian Army's Women Expedition
to Mount Everest. The show will air later this year.
Discovery's
production team will follow the expedition to capture the
summit, attempted by a group of seven Indian Army Women officers.
The cameras will follow the contingent as they endeavour to
reach the summit and achieve the ultimate mountaineering goal.
For the first time, an Army Women Contingent is scaling the
summit from the South ridge route. This route was used by
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
Discovery
South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, "Discovery
Channel is delighted to cover this unique and distinguished
expedition by Indian Army's Women Officers. We are committed
to present stories of success and achievement from India to
audiences around the world."
Johri
adds that Discovery has been working on this project for a
few months. "The adventure wing of the army has given
us support. We have been following the progress of these women
who were trained for months. This year we have done a few
local shows already. We did one on the evolution of Indian
television. We also did another on the making of Ra.One. So
local shows are an important part of what we do."
Indian
Army AVSM, Director General of Military Training Lt Gen SP
Tanwar said, "Indian Army has appreciated the efforts
of Discovery Channel to undertake the coverage of such an
expedition for the first time. Such coverage besides projecting
the unique and glorious feat of the Indian Army, will be a
boon to the large international audience that watches this
esteemed channel and will provide a platform for future joint
ventures with the Discovery Channel on issues related to sports
and adventure in the Indian Army."
The
team is led by Col Ajay Kothiyal, KC, SC, VSM, and includes
seven Indian Army Women officers: Capt Deepika Rathore (Rajasthan),
Capt Namrata Rathore (Uttarakhand), Capt Prachi R Gole (Maharastra),
Maj N Linyu (Nagaland), Maj Neha Bhatnagar (Rajasthan), Capt
Poonam Sangwan (Haryana), and Capt Smitha (Karnataka).
Meanwhile,
Discovery has also soft launched its kids channel Discovery
Kids. Johri said, "35 per cent of this country is under
the age of 14. That is why we are confident about the scope
of this genre. The official launch will take place in the
second half of this year. An announcement will be made shortly."
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