Thinley Namgay

Sports federations under the Bhutan Olympic Committee are preparing for the upcoming sporting activities.

Except for the BoB Bhutan Premier League, all other tournaments of different sports federations and associations are currently withheld. However, athletes have been training regularly.

Lenchu Kunzang, 28, a former Olympian from Bhutan Shooting Federation (BSF), will take part in the Bangladesh International Championship (virtual) on October 18.

Currently, Lenchu Kunzang is training at Changlimithang along with two other shooters.

BSF’s coach Dorji Phurba said that of the two women shooters, one was para shooter Kinley Dem.

Bhutan Volleyball Federation (BVF) will organise an online coaching for 95 volleyball enthusiasts from across the country on October 19 for an hour.  Kristof De Loose, director of sports training for volleyball in Belgium will facilitate the coaching on the theme ‘be creative with exercise’.

Registration is underway. More than 80 participants have registered as of October 12.

BVF’s programme officer, Sangay Tempa, said that the federation would organise similar coaching sessions for the referees.

The newly initiated ‘women in badminton’ tournament by the Bhutan Badminton Federation will take place in the first week of November at the Babena sports complex in Thimphu. As a pilot tournament, only women from Thimphu will participate this year.

“This is mainly to address women’s participation in badminton. Women’s engagement in badminton is still negligible,” said the federation’s head coach, Sherab Gyeltshen.

“Federation is also preparing for tentative activities like shuttle time basic coaching for kids towards the end of this month, shuttle time teachers’ course and Punakha’s shuttle time tournament next month,” he said, adding that it was challenging to organise tournaments considering the  Covid-19 pandemic.

Bhutan Tennis Federation’s coach Nidup Gyeltshen said that the junior series tournament in Thimphu would be conducted soon if the government allows.

“Tennis competition in most of the countries have already started as there is minimum contact between players during the match,” said Nidup Gyeltshen.

Of the four tennis courts in Thimphu, three are currently being renovated.

Bhutan Basketball Federation will conduct open basketball tournament for both men and women on October 15 in Thimphu without spectators.

Coach Lhendup said that only eight people from each team would be allowed in the court.