The first-ever Queen’s Cup basketball championship has created a new space for women basketball enthusiasts in the country. The tournament concluded yesterday with Team Majas making history as the inaugural champions after defeating Team Griffins in the final. More than just a competition, organisers say the tournament is a step towards encouraging more women to take up the sport.
The Thimphu Basketball Centre came alive as Team Majas and Team Griffins faced off in the final.
After a closely contested start, Majas pulled ahead in the second half to secure a 54-34 win and become the first-ever Queen’s Cup champions.
“It is an honour to be the first-ever Queen’s Cup champions. This tournament was a great opportunity for all of us to compete, and we are very grateful to be part of such a historic event. Strong teams were participating, and we are extremely happy to have come out as the champions,” said Xumsel Finso Chhodon, a player of Majas.
Although they missed the title, Team Griffins said reaching the final itself was an achievement and a valuable learning experience.
“We are very happy to have reached the finals. Although we could not win this time, we worked very hard as a team and gave our best throughout the tournament. We will take this experience as motivation and come back stronger, and we will continue working hard to win in the next tournament,” said Sherab Wangmo, a player of Griffins.
Organised by the Bhutan Basketball Federation, with support from Vajra Construction Private Limited and the International Basketball Federation Foundation’s Basketball for Good project, the Queen’s Cup is the country’s first basketball tournament dedicated entirely to women.
However, organisers say attracting more female participants remains a challenge. Only five teams took part in the two-week inaugural edition.
“There is still very low participation of girls in basketball, so I would like to encourage more girls and young people to come forward and take part. You may feel nervous when you start, but with time and experience, you will become more confident and improve your skills,” added Sherab Wangmo.
“I would encourage all young girls to participate, continue playing, and take part in as many tournaments as they can. Every opportunity to play helps you grow, learn, and gain valuable experience because tournaments teach you many things both on and off the court,” added Xumsel Finso Chhodon.
Team Majas received a cash prize of Nu 60,000 as champions, while Team Griffins received Nu 40,000 as runners-up.
For players and organisers, the Queen’s Cup marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that they hope will inspire more girls to step onto the court.
Kinley Bidha
Edited by Sonam Pem
