In the absence of a sports association in the district, sporting activities have been limited in Zhemgang. The lack of sporting opportunities has made the town even quieter. With the pandemic virtually over, residents say it’s high time that necessary measures are taken to develop sports and bring life back to the community.
Like everywhere else in Bhutan, archery is a beloved sport in Zhemgang, with a growing number of enthusiasts. Here a group of archery enthusiasts from Zhemgang town can be seen engaged in a friendly match conducted by themselves.
However, due to the absence of proper facilities and a sports association in the district, potential players are unable to hone their skills for bigger competitions. And this has left archery enthusiasts feeling deprived of opportunities.
“Without archery tournaments, young people like me have no other sports to engage in, leading some to turn to alcoholism during free time. Organising an annual tournament would not only preserve but also promote the culture amongst the youth,” said Pema Yoezer, an archery enthusiast.
“We have only played friendly matches among ourselves during holidays and weekends, so far. The lack of tournaments has limited our engagement in the sport,” said Jigme, another archery enthusiast.
“I hope the relevant agencies would organise tournaments just as other districts do as it has been five years here that we haven’t seen any. Such initiatives would bring joy to the archery community,” said Sherub Gyeltsen, an archery enthusiast.
“The existing archery range was built by the archers as the district did not provide one for traditional archers. However, they provided one for compound archers,” said Tshering, an archery enthusiast.
Despite the potential increase in the number of sports enthusiasts, the district administration has never organised tournaments for any games. And this has left the town with no opportunities for its residents to rejoice.
Before the pandemic, the departmental football tournament used to bring much-needed vigour to the town.
However, after the pandemic, the lack of sporting activities has turned Zhemgang into a sleepy place.
Meanwhile, according to the district’s sports focal person, they are planning to organise various sports events very soon. The official added that due to the rainy season, they haven’t been able to organise the events.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Sonam Pem
