Sports: Sixty-two youth between 10-20 years are participating in a two-week long Badminton coaching camp at Mongar Lower Secondary School in Mongar.

National Badminton Coach Sherab Gyeltshen said the main objective of organising this champ, which ends on January 18, is to train players from the eastern dzongkhags for the preparation of U-19 tournament which will be held in May this year.

For the last one week, the coach has taught the basics of badminton and its rules. Sherab Gyeltshen said it was important for the juniors, those between 10-12 years to be more interested in learning.

Bhutan Olympic Committee’s focal person in Mongar Sonam Darjay, said, this is the first coaching event held in the district.

He said, the U-19 Badminton Championship tournament will be held in Trashigang this year.

According to the Coach, the championship is conducted to select potential and talented national players. The Bhutan Badminton Federation today has 20 national players.

One of the participants from Mongar Higher Secondary School, Tashi Tshering, 16, said this was his first time to learn and play badminton. “Two weeks of coaching is not enough for the youth,” he said.

By Tashi Phuntsho, Mongar