Part of the first Indian Army women's expedition to climb the world's highest peak, Ashwini, 26, scaled the Everest while Gopika, 25, stayed at the base camp and provided communication and coordination support.

Their parents in Vadodara, about 110 km from here, got news of the team's success over the phone.

"We are proud like any parents," their mother Anita Pawar told IANS over the phone. "They are fortunate to have achieved this at a young age."

The family had been worried about their daughters' safety after one climber was reported missing. But a phone call Friday brought the smile back to their faces.

"On June 3, we received a phone call from Ashwini saying she had reached the base camp after scaling the Everest successfully," said father Ajit Pawar, a fire officer.

The sisters are expected to visit home in August, and their family and friends are planning a grand welcome.

Ashwini was accompanied by Captain Shipra Mazumdar, Cadet Tshering Ladol and Trainee Dechin Lhamo when she conquered the 8,848 m peak from the Chinese side through the North Col Route Thursday.

The parents said the duo had excelled all along. Ashwini topped the South Gujarat University in B.A. (Psychology) and her sibling secured the second rank in the same discipline a year later.

During the college days, they were active members of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

Radhika, the eldest of the three sisters, who has also been in the NCC, inspired them. The NCC association led Ashwini and Gopika to join the army in 2002 as lieutenants.

"My grandfather, Maj Gen A.Q. Sadekar Pawar, served the army and fought in the Second World War on the Burma (Myanmar) front. For some reasons, I could not join the armed forces, but it's in our blood," Ajit Pawar said.

After training in Chennai, Ashwini was posted at the ordnance branch in Allahabad and Gopika with the ordnance branch in Dehradun. They were promoted to the rank of captain six months ago.

The family said their children were interested in mountaineering and developed skills after joining the army. Before the Everest expedition, the sisters participated in a preparatory camp on the Siachen Glacier.