Forged by Diamond: The Unyielding Journey of Coach Bishnu

BBSA's "Aspiring to Inspire" Series Begins

At the Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association (BBSA), our greatest pride is not winning games, but changing lives. Today, we start a new series, "Aspiring to Inspire," to share these powerful stories. Our first story is about Bishnu Lal Chamlagai, Coach Bish. His journey from a tough childhood to becoming a coach and a BOC-RTC scholar shows what can happen when passion meets support. His story is the heart of why we do and what we do.

A Childhood of Weary Absence

My earliest memories are not of play, but of absence. Not a harsh absence, but a weary one. My parents, their hands permanently etched with the grit of their labor for the Public Work Development (PWD), left before dawn and returned after dark. Their love was in the food on our table, not in school drop offs. I was raised by my sister, herself just a child, who had to become a parent to me. At the gates of Changzamtog School, I remember seeing other kids being dropped off and picked up by their parents. I never had that. It hurt, but I know now my parents were working for us. I found my voice in the chaos of the sports field. That first certificate, for football, wasn't just paper; it was a declaration: 'I am here. I have value.' My brother, seeing a flicker in my eyes, fanned it into a flame. I became a captain, a leader, finding in sports the structure and belonging my world lacked. But my school grades suffered because of it. My family was worried. So, during breaks, while friends rested, I traded my sports shoes for worn out sandals and joined my parents' world, the world of construction labor. Carrying bricks under the sun, I learned the weight of my family's sacrifice in the most tangible way.

The Friend Who Spoke of Diamonds

My academic path took an unexpected turn after Class 10. Worried about my performance, my family sent me to live with my strict eldest sister. I managed to score above 60% but missed the cutoff for government schools. Just when it seemed like a dead end, a lifeline appeared, I received a scholarship under the then government's education platform to complete my high school at ELC High School. Even with the scholarship, the annual transportation cost of Nu. 18,000 was a mountain for my family, a burden my eldest sister shouldered without hesitation.
It was at ELC High School in 2021 that my life's true turning point quietly walked into the picture. My friend, Kuenzang Dhendup (KD), was always talking about a new sport being introduced in Bhutan, BASEBALL. He was part of the Thimphu Baseball Club and his passion was infectious. While I knew of the game from animations, the real rules were a mystery. KD invited me to weekend sessions in Motithang. At first, I wasn't fully dedicated; the pressure to excel academically for my family was immense.
But our bond grew stronger in our final year, we were elected as captains together KD as Scout Captain and me as a captain for Kiba House, spending hours talking on the bus rides to and from school. It was during these moments that KD shared more, about the World Series, the strategy, the soul of the game. My curiosity turned into a burning desire to know more. But fate, or perhaps friendship, is persistent. In 2022, KD, looked at me and issued not just an invitation, but a challenge. He asked me to join the inaugural U18 league. I said yes.

Love at First Swing, Heartbreak at First Snub

The first time I walked onto the field at Loseling MSS, the world shifted. The smell of the grass, the snug fit of a leather mitt, the profound thwack of a perfect hit, it was a language my soul understood instantly. I had found my place. Then came the first hard choice. That same winter, right after the U18 league, I was invited to the national team selection camp. My heart leapt. But my reality pulled me back. My family needed my support; I had to work during the break. With a heavy heart, I let the opportunity pass. The bigger, searing pain came later. When the final U18 national team was announced, I scanned the official photo eagerly, hoping. I saw KD’s proud smile. I did not see my own face. The dream I had just embraced felt ripped away. I sat with that disappointment, let it burn, and then made a silent vow: I would earn my place. Not for glory, but because this game had, in a few short weeks, felt more like home than anything before. I trained relentlessly and eventually earned my place on the Senior National Team.

The Walk of Faith: When Passion Weighed Me Down

When BBSA’s General Secretary, Sanjeevan, asked if I saw a future in coaching, I didn't hesitate. Baseball was no longer a game; it was my calling. In 2023, KD and I were hired as contract coaches. My salary was Nu. 7,000 a month, and I was assigned as the head coach for Jigme Namgyel LSS. This was when the true test began. The salary couldn’t even cover my daily transportation from Babesa to the school. There were days I walked the distance with equipment on my back, my dedication literally weighing me down. Exhausted at home, I faced immense pressure from my parents to quit and find a "real job." They saw my struggle and couldn’t understand my choice. With BBSA itself navigating financial challenges, I was trapped between the two greatest loves of my life: my family and my calling. I almost broke. I almost quit.

The First "No": A Dream Deferred, Not Denied

But my biggest dream was also to study further. In early 2024, I applied for the BOC-RTC Scholarship for the 2024 fall intake with support from BBSA. I did not get it. I was very disheartened and took some time off to feel better. But the BBSA team kept encouraging me. They told me to try again.

I kept coaching and learning. Fueled by this faith, I poured everything into my students. Our first major triumph was a runner up finish. To some, it was success. To me, it felt like failure. Had I let them down? I spent nights studying coaching manuals, messaging overseas mentors, and drilling fundamentals until they were second nature.

Then, in May 2024, the miracle unfolded. My U15 boys' and girls' teams both fought their way to the top, securing the maiden championship title for Jigme Namgyel LSS. That night, I didn’t go straight home. I sat with the two trophies under a streetlamp, tears finally breaking through the day before handing our hard-fought trophies to the school. I carried them home, not as a coach, but as a son. I showed them to my parents. No words were needed. In the reflective gleam of that silver, they finally saw it, not a foolish dream, but a destiny being earned. Their embrace that night was the greatest victory of my life.

The Lifeline: "Your Passion Has Worth"

In September 2024, BBSA again did not let me fall. They saw my struggle. Our President, upon hearing my story, didn't offer pity; he offered a solution, doubling my salary. It was more than money, it was validation. It was a message to my family: 'Your son’s passion has worth.'
From there, the doors BBSA opened widened. Representing Bhutan at the Softball Asia Congress in Malaysia, my first ever flight, I wept silently as the plane took off, my father’s laborer hands and my mother’s weary smile etched in my mind. I was flying for them. There, I met people from all over the world. I got to share the story of baseball and softball in Bhutan and the work BBSA is doing.

The Student Forever: Learning to Give More

When I returned, I learned a new, fast version of the game called Baseball5. I attended a special coaching clinic run by expert Andrea and became a certified Baseball5 coach. The guidance from world class coaches like Andrea was invaluable. Then, in early 2025, Coach Paul visited, and he deepened my understanding of the game profoundly.

The Dream, Realized: From Bricks to Books

And then came my dream again, a second attempt at the BOC-RTC Scholarship. This time, armed with experience and certifications, I was ready. I secured the top spot, becoming the third recipient from BBSA. Today, I am a student of Health and Sports Science, and my dream is to start the first university baseball and softball club at RTC. The boy who once carried bricks now carries a future, a Bachelor's degree in Health and Sports Science, built on the foundation of a baseball diamond.

To my family, who taught me the weight of love: this is for you.
To KD, who threw me the perfect pitch of friendship: thank you.
To BBSA and to my colleagues Acho Sanjeevan, Ashim Tshering, and my buddy Jiggy, who saw the player and coach within the struggling boy and never let go: my journey is yours.
And to the coaches who shaped me, Coach Mervin, my first Head Coach, the mentors from Global Sports Partners, Coach Andrea, who unlocked Baseball5 and Coach Paul, who deepened my understanding, thank you for sharing your knowledge and belief.

Our Promise: We Are the Glove That Catches Dreams

Bishnu’s story is the very essence of our mission. It underscores that our role extends beyond coaching athletes; it is about nurturing human potential. We are committed to being the stable force for our coaches and players, especially when the path gets steep. Bishnu walked so others could see the way. He is a living reminder that within our association, we don’t just build players; we build futures, character, and leaders.

His Message to All

"If your path is dark and steep, remember, the pressure is what creates diamonds. I was forged by it. Believe in your own story even when no one else turns the page. Work hard in silence, let your passion be your noise, and hold on for those who will eventually see your light. I walked so you could see it's possible. Now, run. Your diamond is waiting."