Training: To improve the quality of basketball in the country, about 25-basketball coaches including school sports instructors and referees are undergoing a weeklong coaching clinic in Thimphu that began on December 7.

The level I coach’s clinic provides participants with the technical knowhow of the game and help them understand the importance of sportsmanship, leadership and discipline. The fundamentals of the game are one of the important aspects of the training.

Bhutan Basketball Federation’s (BFF) general secretary, Kuenga Gyaltshen, said that the course would help improve the coaches’ knowledge on the game and help them refine their skills.

“We need to improve the level of our coaches and referees before setting out towards improving basketball in general,” he said. “We are certain that such initiatives will help us lead toward achieving our goal of developing basketball in the country.”

Federation International Basketball Association (FIBA) certified coach, Koh Koon Teck from Singapore is providing the coaches with both theory-based learning as well as practical sessions.

“There is a lot of potential for basketball in Bhutan with game being the second most popular sport in the country. I see a lot of room for enhancement,“ said Koh Koon Teck.

This is the second level I clinic conducted by the federation in collaboration with the Bhutan Olympic Committee and FIBA.

Younten Tshedup