… this is the first tournament organised in the country  

YK Poudel 

Team Royal Body Guard (RBG) and Dechencholing Higher Secondary School (DHSS) will clash on November 11 in the final of the first-ever.

RICB 18U Men’s Bhutan Amateur Baseball League.

In the first match on October 29, team RBG defeated Thimphu Baseball Club by 16 to 14 points. Dechencholing HSS narrowly beat Taba Lower Secondary School with a single-point lead scoring a total of 12 points.

According to Technical Head of Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association, Sanjeevan Raj Gurung, the tournament intends to develop and prepare young under-18 players for dzongkhag clubs and senior leagues.

“We are closely observing the players to select potential ones and groom them to form a team,” he said.

Sonam Tashi, 14, captain of team RBG said that it was a privilege to take part in the league. “It is a new sport in Bhutan and we are happy for this tough win against Thimphu Baseball Club which has good players. Our team will work hard for the finals and perform better than today.”

The tournament is organised by Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association (BBSA) in collaboration with the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan. It started on August 27.

There are 84 students in seven teams participating in the league: Changangkha Middle Secondary School, Thimphu Baseball Club, Taba Lower Secondary School, Loselling Middle Secondary School, Druk School, Dechencholing Higher Secondary School and RBG team.

BBSA has reached out its campaign to schools under Thimphu Thromde and Wangduephodrang dzongkhag. It plans to reach out to southern dzongkhags next year.