Four athletes from Bhutan left for Japan today to take part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It begins on the 23rd of this month. For the first time, Bhutan is competing in Judo and swimming. Two other athletes will be competing in archery and shooting. The games were supposed to take place last year but were postponed due to the pandemic.
Except for the archer, all other athletes got a wildcard entry. They said it is a dream come true.
“I am very nervous as well as excited thinking about the Olympics. I have trained every morning and evening for the Olympics. I am hoping to perform well,” said Judoka Ngawang Namgyel. He will compete in the men’s 60-kilogram category.
Having participated in the swimming World Championship in South Korea in 2019, Bhutan recently became eligible to take part in swimming. Sangay Tenzin has been training in Thailand. He will be competing in the men’s 100-meter freestyle discipline.
“I am really happy and ecstatic and it is an honour to represent my country at such a prestigious event. My goal is to give my best performance and I am looking forward to breaking records,” said Sangay Tenzin.
In Archery, Karma earned a place in the Olympics after the Asian Continental Qualification tournament held in Thailand earlier this year. She first represented Bhutan in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. She said she is happy to qualify and hopes to perform well.
Meanwhile, shooter Lenchu Kunzang is confident this time that she can perform better. She never missed the bulls-eye in her training this time. She also competed in Brazil.
“My score has also improved. That is why I feel I can do better this time. I feel confident and comfortable this time because I have competed in the past as well,” said Lenchu Kunzang.
The ultimate hope is to win a medal, but just competing with the world’s best means more than a medal.
Tshering Dendup
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
