The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Bhutan’s only para-athlete competing at the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi in March is Chimi Dema, 31.
In a recent conversation with Chimi, she shared her early experiences and how she first encountered Shot Put that has brought her to the global stage.
“When I was young, I never tried Shot Put games, nor had I ever heard of it in my first 24 years of life,” she said, and recalled further, “I may have seen it on television, but never in real life.”
Reflecting on her early years in Mongar, Chimi shared, “I was enrolled in school late, and my school was far from where I lived.”
While she did participate in games, she never got involved in sports like Shot Put during her childhood.
After finishing class 12, Chimi pursued computer training, far from the world of athletics. It was her cousin’s husband who first sparked her interest in para sports. “He was the one who encouraged me to participate in the Paralympics that was being broadcasted on television,” she said. “That’s when I first saw athletes like me competing, and something sparked inside me.”
From that moment, Chimi’s journey into para-athletics began. “I never thought of it before, but once I saw it, I knew I had to try,” she said.
In 2018, Chimi’s journey took another significant turn when she met her coach, Penjor Gyetshen, who played a pivotal role in her life. “He motivated me not to give up, and it’s because of him that I am where I am today,” she said.
Until mid-2022, Chimi was able to train whenever she was called. However, after receiving a scholarship at the Royal Thimphu College (RTC), her schedule became more challenging.
Despite this, Chimi remained determined to train. “The classes would start at 9 am, so I would go to train by 6 am,” she said.
Chimi began intensive training for the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix with her new coach on 6th February, dedicating two hours each in the morning and evening to her preparation.
Looking ahead to the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix, Chimi acknowledged that it would be a challenging competition. “It will be tough to get a medal this time, but I will try to beat my personal best.”
Despite the many challenges she has faced, Chimi remains determined. Chimi said. “I motivate myself not to give up, and I believe I’ll win great medals one day.”
Chimi added, “There are a lot of challenges, but my aim is to never give up. I want to motivate others like me to come forward and show that they can do even better than I have.”
