The Bhutanese Leading the way.
With back-to-back victories in judo and archery, Bhutanese athletes are proudly marking the nation’s presence in international sports. From powerful throws on the judo mat in Bangladesh to precise shots in the archery range in South Korea, Bhutanese athletes are proving their strength, skill, and determination.
The Bhutan Judo Federation has shown outstanding commitment to building world-class talent through its grassroots development programs. This dedication was clearly reflected in the remarkable performances by judokas Tenzin Dorji, Yeshay Nidup and Kinga Norbu at the BKSP Cup International Judo Championship 2025. Their achievements stand as a strong testament to Bhutan’s growing presence in the international judo scene. With discipline and sportsmanship, these athletes have made the nation proud and raised the profile of Bhutanese judo.
At the same time, Bhutan’s archery team delivered an impressive performance at the Gyeyang Open 2025 in Incheon, South Korea, held from 20th – 25th May. Competing against elite foreign archers from nine countries, Kinley Tshering claimed 1st place in the individual recurve category, a category opens only to international players. His path to gold included a victory over a highly skilled Japanese opponent in the final round. The event’s top four featured archers from Bhutan, Japan, and Russia.
Adding to the success, Sonam Penjor shared third place with a Russian archer. Both showed remarkable consistency, focus, and accuracy throughout the competition. These results reflect Bhutan’s rising level in international archery.
The 2025 edition of the Gyeyang Open drew 47 individual athletes from 18 teams across nine countries, excluding the host, South Korea. Bhutan’s four-archer team, representing the Bhutan Archery Federation, competed against athletes from countries such as China, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Japan, Philippines, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and Denmark.
China fielded five players from San Ling Archery Club, Jian Jia Archery Club, JINJIAN, and unaffiliated athletes. Singapore had a strong lineup of 18 archers from The Archery Academy, Salt & Light Archery, and SE Archery. The diverse and experienced field made the competition especially competitive and prestigious.
Notably, all participants in the Gyeyang Open were foreign nationals, which raised the overall level of the tournament. Kinley Tshering’s gold-medal finish and Sonam Penjor’s podium placement highlighted the strength of Bhutanese archery on a truly international platform.
This success follows weeks of intensive training under South Korean head coach Park Youngsook, who has been guiding the national team since mid-April at the Bhutan Archery Federation’s centre in Langjophakha, Thimphu.
