Volleyball is one of the oldest sports in the country. Yet, its development slacked over the past two decades compared to other sports. However, this is about to change. A new volleyball court of international standard in Thimphu will be ready by early next week. Constructed at a cost of Nu 12 M, the court is expected to help develop the sport by drawing more volleyball enthusiasts.
In a major facelift, the once single court at the Changlimithang in Thimphu will now have three separate courts by next week. A beach volleyball court and two synthetic-floored courts equipped with floodlights and attached offices will come as a major development.
“After the completion of these courts, people can play as early as six in the morning to midnight. We didn’t even have a proper toilet in the past but now we do. It took about a year to complete the courts,” said Pema Dorji, the Assistant Coach at the Bhutan Volleyball Federation.
He added the works would have finished in six months had it not been for the pandemic which made it difficult to procure the materials.
Most of the materials such as lights and carpets were imported from Italy. The fund for the construction was provided by the Government of India through the Bhutan Olympic Committee.
With the completion of the works, major tournaments such as the Thimphu League and the National League are set to begin very soon.
To develop the sport in other parts of the country, the federation is currently working on procuring funds to construct a similar court in Gelephu as well.
Tshering Dendup
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
