Four athletes departed to represent Bhutan at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup in Bahrain on 22nd November. This prestigious event, regarded as the world’s premier international team competition in women’s tennis, is organised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The Bhutanese team will compete in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group III stage, starting 25th November. This is the beginner level of the Billie Jean King Cup. Seventeen nations will battle it out, with the top two earning qualifying to Group II in next year’s tournament.
This marks Bhutan’s second appearance in the Billie Jean King Cup after the debut last year. The team has been hard at work for the past three months, undergoing rigorous training at the National Tennis Centre in Changlimithang.
Leading the team is 22-year-old Tandin Wangmo Dorji, a seasoned player and the reigning champion of the Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel National Open Tennis Championship 2024, held in August.
A student at the Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, Tandin has competed in numerous international tournaments, including the Under-14 Development Tournaments in Bangkok and Vietnam in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
She first picked up a racquet at just six years old, participating in the Bhutan Tennis Federation’s coaching camp. Tandin has also dominated the National Open Tennis Championship, winning three consecutive titles starting in 2013.
“Last year, due to our first experience, it was very difficult to comprehend what kind of game we would be playing down there. However, this second time, we are confident that we will at least make it to the global platform. We will try our best with the resources given by the government and our Tennis Federation. So we will make sure that we will at least make Bhutan proud. The four of us will make it this time,” said Tandin Wangmo Dorji, a tennis player in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup.
Joining her is the team’s youngest member, 18-year-old Tenzin Wangsel Lhaden, a first-year Bachelor of Sports and Science student at Royal Thimphu College.
Tenzin brings experience from regional tournaments, having competed in Nepal, Bangkok and the Philippines.
“Last year, my class twelve exam stopped me from participating. This year, I am thrilled to represent our country in the Billie Jean King Cup. The past two months of intense training have significantly improved my skills, and I am eager to showcase my growth on the field,” said Tenzin Wangsel Lhaden, another tennis player, 2024 Billie Jean King Cup.
Next is 24-year-old Tandin Bidha, who picked up tennis at the age of 16. Though this is her first international competition, Tandin views it as a chance to gain valuable experience and elevate her game.
The final member of the team is 26-year-old Tsheden Tshokey, who currently works in Bangkok. Tsheden began playing tennis at 13 and later moved to the United States, where she played varsity tennis for four years as a key player. She is no stranger to high-level competition, having trained with a former coach of the Bhutan Tennis Federation, Jalal Fathi, during her junior years.
The Bhutan Tennis Federation selected the four athletes after rigorous trials involving 12 hopefuls. Since then, the players have been training for four hours daily to prepare for the tournament.
“We selected four girls among 12 girls who participated in the selection competition. The four girls were trained for the last three months. We could only train them in the morning and the evening because of the schedule in the schools and colleges. I hope they can put up a good show,” said Tshering Namgay, a senior coach at the Bhutan Tennis Federation.
Bhutan will compete in both singles and doubles categories, determined to make their mark on the international stage.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
