March 18, 2015

Ms. Elisa Lee, member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and a Member of the Education, Culture, Sport & Tourism Committee is in Bhutan to assess the status of sports development in the Kingdom and see how best to assist and support its growth for the benefit of the youth of Bhutan. Her interest in Bhutan was piqued when she met with Bhutanese delegation to the Incheon Asian, led by His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck. She was the mayor of the Athletes Village at the Incheon Asian games and had the opportunity to interact with the Bhutanese athletes and officials during which she committed assist in the development of sports in Bhutan. Post Incheon Games, 2014, Miss Elisa Lee spearheaded an initiative to seek the financing for this gift from the Education, Culture, Sport & Tourism Committee in her capacity as a member of a National Assembly and a Member of the Education, Culture, Sport & Tourism Committee. This assistance the Bhutan Olympic Committee comprises of sporting equipment worth approximately US$ 44,000/- from the Education, Culture, Sport & Tourism Committee and the Korean Olympic Committee. The equipment includes include tracksuits, taekwondo floor mats, boxing uniforms, boxing gloves, bow handles, arrows, and bow stands, amongst others. As a former world champion in table tennis, Ms. Elisa Lee shared that it was her steadfast vision to try and help athletes from developing countries achieve their aspirations and perform at the international stage. Ms. Elisa Lee’s commitment to support athletes in countries such as Bhutan comes from her personal experience of trials and tribulations as a female athlete.

The following are the media attention the Bhutan Football Team received before and after the victory over Sri Lanka Football Team. Last-Ranked Bhutan Stuns Sri Lanka a Second Time http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/18/sports/soccer/last-ranked-bhutan-does-it-again-stunning-sri-lanka.html?_r=0 Bhutan One Step Closer To World Cup After Shocking Victory Over Sri Lanka http://www.npr.org/2015/03/17/393646668/bhutan-one-step-closer-to-world-cup-after-shocking-victory-over-sri-lanka World’s Worst Soccer Team Wins Again in World Cup Qualifying http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-17/bhutan-advances-in-world-cup-qualifying-with-win-over-sri-lanka Initial Preview: Sri Lanka vs Bhutan [Match Thread] Bhutan vs Sri Lanka – 2018 World Cup Qualifying by insoccer Bottom-ranked Fifa side Bhutan kick off Asian World Cup qualifying with enthusiasm, Agence France-Presse, March 11, 2015 http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/bottom-ranked-fifa-side-bhutan-kick-off-asian-world-cup-qualifying-with-enthusiasm A Moment Atop the World for Bhutan’s Last-Ranked Team By JAMES MONTAGUEMARCH 12, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/13/sports/soccer/as-2018-world-cup-qualifying-begins-a-first-for-bhutan.html?_r=1 Footy Room http://footyroom.com/sri-lanka-0-1-bhutan-2015-03/ Bhutan Wins Bhutan wins! World’s lowest ranked side Bhutan scores historic World Cup qualifying win 13 Mar 2015 – 11:15am http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/03/13/worlds-lowest-ranked-side-bhutan-scores-historic-world-cup-qualifying-win World’s worst team Bhutan kick off 2018 World Cup qualifying with victory http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/12/bhutan-win-world-cup-qualifier-2018 ‘World’s Worst Football Team’ Bhutan Play 1st World Cup Game…and Win http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2394577-worlds-worst-football-team-bhutan-play-first-ever-world-cup-gameand-win Soccer-World’s worst Bhutan win on World Cup qualifying debut http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-worlds-worst-bhutan-win-world-cup-qualifying-132711821–sow.html FIFA’s lowest ranked nation Bhutan win first ever WC qualifier (v Sri Lanka) [Video] http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/fifas-lowest-ranked-nation-bhutan-win-wc-qualifier-v-sri-lanka-video/ Bhutan and Brunei both had historic reasons to celebrate on the opening day of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/4944/international-soccer/2015/03/12/9753322/bhutan-makes-history-as-2018-world-cup-qualifying-kicks-off Bhutan wins on 1st day of 2018 World Cup qualifying http://www.kentucky.com/2015/03/12/3741587/bhutan-wins-on-1st-day-of-world.html Fifa World Cup qualifying: Bhutan in shock win over Sri Lanka http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31863041 Bhutan wins on 1st day of 2018 World Cup qualifying, The Associated Press http://www.thestate.com/2015/03/12/4040877/bhutan-wins-on-1st-day-of-world.html World’s worst nation Bhutan win on World Cup qualifying debut http://au.eurosport.com/football/world-cup/2014/world-s-worst-nation-bhutan-win-on-world-cup-qualifying-debut_sto4636060/story.shtml Bhutan bewilder as India, Timor-Leste cruise http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=3/news=bhutan-bewilder-as-india-timor-leste-cruise-2557850.html World’s worst team wins http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Worlds-worst-team-wins-296152511.html Cambodia optimistic ahead of Macau World Cup clash http://www.phnompenhpost.com/cambodia-optimistic-ahead-macau-world-cup-clash World Cup 2018 qualifying gives Asia a chance to dream after Brazil failure http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2336010/asia-dreams-of-the-2018-world-cup Bhutan win first ever WC qualifier http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8966638 Fifa World Cup qualifying debut win for world’s bottom-ranked team http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/67314259/fifa-world-cup-qualifying-debut-win-for-worlds-bottomranked-team Bhutan wins on 1st day of 2018 World Cup qualifying http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2015/03/12/4839191/bhutan-wins-on-1st-day-of-world.html Bhutan make history with World Cup preliminary win http://www.sportal.com.au/football/news/bhutan-make-history-with-world-cup-preliminary-win/yumhtib23nwg11bevp9fmgd4h Bhutan win first ever WC qualifier http://www.sportsfan.com.au/bhutan-win-first-ever-wc-qualifier/tabid/91/newsid/156170/default.aspx ‘World’s worst’ football team pulls off miracle win http://www.hindustantimes.com/football/world-s-worst-football-team-bhutan-pulls-off-miracle-win-against-sri-lanka-in-2018-fifa-world-cup-qualifier/article1-1325645.aspx FIFA World Cup qualifier – 2018 in Russia Sri Lanka host Bhutan in curtain raiser http://www.ceylontoday.lk/3-87111-news-detail-fifa-world-cup-qualifier-2018-in-russia-sri-lanka-host-bhutan-in-curtain-raiser.html Yemen extend Pakistan’s dismal record, Bhutan win http://www.dawn.com/news/1169139 India, Bhutan kick off 2018 FIFA WC qualifying http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/india-bhutan-kick-off-2018-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-soccer-football/20150311.htm Bhutan wins on 1st day of 2018 World Cup qualifying http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article13761620.html Bhutan wins on 1st day of 2018 World Cup qualifying http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/03/12/bhutan-wins-on-1st-day-of-2018-world-cup-qualifying/70213980/ Fifa World Cup qualifying debut win for world’s bottom-ranked team http://www.nzherald.co.nz/football-soccer/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11416666&ref=rss

By Aaron Flanagan Chencho Gyeltshen was the name on the lips of fans at the Changlimithang Stadium after Bhutan claimed a hugely-significant win in their qualifying The world’s worst football team have completed one of the biggest shocks of the season – by winning their debut World Cup qualifier. Despite being ranked 209th out of 209 in the world, Bhutan defied all of the odds to win both legs of their first ever foray into the world’s premier competition. After claiming a surprise 1-0 victory in the first leg, Bhutan rallied to claim a 2-1 victory at he Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, with both goals coming from now-national hero Chencho Gyeltshen. The small nation, situated in the heart of the Himalayas, did not have a competitive win to their name before facing Sri Lanka. But Sri Lanka boss Nikola Kavazovic has more egg on his face than anyone else, after declaring that his side would win the second leg.