Thimphu, Bhutan, April 16, 2021: The Bhutan Olympic Committee is planning to send a swimmer to the Olympic Games for the first time.
Only Bhutanese archers and shooters have competed in the Olympics since 1984 but two young swimmers are in contention for a wild card invitation in the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics this July.
The two candidates are Kinley Lhendup and Sangay Tenzin, who have been training at the FINA centre Thanyapura in Phuket, Thailand for the last two years.
Having participated in the 18th FINA World Championships held in Gwangju, Korea in 2019, Bhutan has become eligible to take part in swimming in the Olympic Games through an international invitation process.
“Only one of us will go to the Olympics and it will be decided in a competition in Bangkok this month. We are doing our best; we have given everything and we hope for the best. May the best one represent our country in the Olympics,” said Sangay Tenzin, according to the BBS news service.
“One of the main things that I learned here is that it’s not about individual performance. It is all about teamwork and family. So, no matter who goes, we will keep on supporting and encouraging each other,” added Kinley Lhendup.
With the support of FINA, the pair took part in numerous swimming competitions in Thailand, Russia, Singapore and Malaysia in the last two years.
The Bhutan Olympic Committee hopes to be represented in archery, judo, shooting and swimming at Tokyo 2020.
Source: Bhutan Olympic Committee/BBS