“Tobh shu chen gi chha”- The Strongest Arm!
The progressive weekly Sunday trainings and district tours of Baseball & Softball, over the months, has seen substantial growth in numbers of youths coming forward to participate, experience and be part of this amazing sport. The observation that we have gathered from our recent summer clinic tours and trainings organized at Phobjikha, Wangdue and Bitekha; to our amazement we have seen raw talents in these rural pockets, be it be – pitching, batting, throwing or catching, there is natural athletic ability with children of rural Bhutan.
Our social media platforms are also garnering support and awareness of the sport to the public across the nation and beyond, thus making it a exciting talk amongst the youths and parents alike that Baseball & Softball has arrived in Bhutan.
Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association (BBSA) conducted the first ever pitching/throwing challenge in Thimphu on 15th of August, 2021 for U15 category and on 22nd of August for 15+. BBSA’s objective was to organize the event open to all in two categories of genders (male and female) with the intention to introducing, promoting and creating awareness of Baseball & Softball in Bhutan. The event went on to be a day long program wherein, every one showing up came forth and pitched the ball from the pitching mount to the catcher to set the fastest time. The coaches of BBSA judged the speed of the ball with a mobile app on Baseball pitching and recorded the top speeds!
The event received much needed hype with the presence of celebrities such as Miss Lha Dorji, a popular Tiktoker and Mr. Phuntshok Dhonden, a budding Film Star for the first event and Mr. Dorji Phuntsho, the Chief Executive Officer of RSEB, for the second 15+ event. The event was covered by Yeewong Magazine and the BBSA media team.
Every participants came forward and gave their best shots. At the end of the event the title of “The Strongest Arm!” were bagged by four fastest pitchers in their respective categories as listed below:
Event 1: Under 15 with the pitching distance set at 45.6 feet.
Event 1: Under 15
Ms. Dechen Tshomo (12 years old) of Dechencholing Higher Secondary School with speed record of 59.4 mph;
Mr. Tandin Penjor (13 years old) of Taba Lower Secondary with speed record of 90.5 mph.
Event 2: 15+ with the pitching distance set at 60.6 feet.
Event 2: 15+
Ms. Karma Lhaden Tobgay (20 years old) of Royal Thimphu College with speed record of 33 mph;
Mr. Tenzin Nima Dorji (20 years old) of Stamford American International School with speed record of 84 mph.
The winners were presented the prestigious title and prizes generously contributed by interested donors, followed by interviewing them about their experience at the event and Baseball in general.
With the successful stories of these events, BBSA lives up with high hopes and determination that we all are together in this journey to promote this internationally acclaimed Diamond sport in Bhutan.
