Nim Dorji | Trongsa

A group of men from Thimphu and Samtse formed a team called ‘Gaulay Blaster’ and won the national open volleyball championship held in Taktse College, Trongsa.

Gaulay Blaster defeated a team from Gelephu in the finals played on December 22. The winners took home trophy and medals.

Seven teams from various dzongkhags participated in the two-day league-knockout tournament which was organised by Bhutan Volleyball Federation (BVBF) and Taktse College volleyball club.

Sangay Tempa from BVBF said the tournament was organised to promote volleyball for people from all the walks of lives. “The tournament is conducted in different places every year and this year, it is organised in Taktse College as the college has a volleyball club.”

He said the club would be organizing the championship next year. “The federation faces challenge of lack of facilities such as volleyball courts, as volleyball is an indoor sport but there are no indoor volleyball courts in the country.”

The federation has plans to form volleyball clubs in all dzongkhags and organise national leagues.

Meanwhile, a two-day referee training was also organised before the tournament and 14 students of Taktse College and three volleyball coaches took part in the training.

Sangay Tempa said the referee training was organised to update the latest rules and regulations of volleyball, especially for younger generations who will be supporting the federation in the future. “Volleyball is expected to become more popular in the country in the coming years as we will organise highest level league competitions in the country”.

The national league will start from February 2020 with five clubs, three from Thimphu and one each from Trongsa and Punakha.