When Dreams Continue Through the Next Generation

In a small Himalayan nation like Bhutan, dreams are rarely measured by the size of the country. They are measured by the courage of the people who continue to believe in them. Across valleys, schools, and training grounds, there is a quiet but powerful belief shared by many in Bhutan’s sporting community that one day the Bhutanese flag will rise at the Olympic Games beside a gold medal.

For the generation of athletes who once carried Bhutan’s hopes onto international arenas, that dream has never faded. Some of them once stood on the Olympic stage themselves, representing the country with pride and determination. Like many athletes around the world, they too had their own dreams of standing on the podium. But even when their competitive careers ended, the dream itself did not end with them. Instead, it transformed into something deeper. It became a responsibility to guide the next generation so that the dream continues, stronger and closer than before.

This spirit is at the heart of the work carried out by the Bhutan Olympic Committee, which has steadily been investing in young people through its Sports in School Program. The idea behind the program is simple yet powerful. When sports are introduced early in schools, they do more than produce athletes. They shape discipline, build confidence, nurture leadership, and encourage healthy living.

One of the schools where this vision has truly taken root is Chundu Armed Force Public School in Haa, one of the pilot schools implementing the program. Over time the school has grown into a lively hub of sporting activity where students are discovering abilities they never knew they had.

Moments like these quietly show how sports can transform a school environment and inspire young people in ways that go far beyond competition.

The impact of this nurturing environment has already begun to show promising results. One inspiring example is Sangay Peldon, a student of Chundu Armed Force Public School who represented Bhutan at the Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain. Competing in boxing, Sangay delivered an outstanding performance and secured Bhutan’s first international youth boxing victory after defeating an opponent from Saudi Arabia by split decision.

When she returned to Haa, the school community welcomed her with pride. Students gathered around her with curiosity and excitement, many of them realizing for the first time that someone from their own school could step into an international arena and represent Bhutan. Her achievement became more than a personal victory. It became a reminder that when young talent is supported and guided, remarkable things can happen.

While witnessing the growing interest among students and reflecting on inspiring journeys of Bhutanese Olympians, including stories shared through the Olympic Sherab initiative, an important realization began to take shape. There were still opportunities to expand the program further and introduce new sports that could open additional pathways for young athletes. One such possibility was shooting.

What began as a simple observation gradually turned into a meaningful conversation within the offices of the Bhutan Olympic Committee. The idea was straightforward. If young students were already thriving in different sports, why not introduce shooting and allow them to explore another Olympic discipline that requires patience, precision, and mental strength?

From that discussion, the idea began to grow.

On 24th September, the team from the Bhutan Shooting Federation, led by General Secretary Gyamtsho, held a coordination meeting with the leadership of Chundu Armed Force Public School to discuss the possibility of integrating shooting sports into the school’s programs. A representative from the Bhutan Olympic Committee also joined the meeting, offering guidance and ensuring that the initiative aligned with Bhutan’s broader national sports development goals.

What started as a discussion slowly turned into a shared commitment. Institutions, school leaders, and sports professionals came together with the same belief that investing in young people today would shape Bhutan’s sporting future tomorrow.

Today that idea has become a reality. Chundu Armed Force Public School has now become the first school in Bhutan to house facilities for both shooting and archery, alongside its existing boxing club. Within the campus, students now have access to multiple Olympic sports, giving them the chance to discover their talents early and develop them in a structured environment.

Such opportunities play a crucial role in cultivating a broader pool of young athletes. When sports are integrated into schools, students learn far more than just techniques. They learn discipline, patience, resilience, and the importance of focus. At the same time, sports encourage a healthy lifestyle and build confidence that supports their overall growth.

Guiding the students on this journey are two dedicated coaches who once represented Bhutan on the Olympic stage themselves.

Kunzang Choden, an Olympian in shooting, now serves as the shooting coach at the school, while Sherab Zam, an Olympian archer, leads the archery program. For both coaches, working with young students carries a special meaning because they once walked the same path as athletes representing Bhutan internationally.

For Kunzang Choden, her time at the school has been deeply fulfilling.

“My assignment at Haa School was a very meaningful and memorable experience for me. When I first arrived at the school, I felt excited because it was a good opportunity to share my knowledge of shooting with young students. I always believe that sports can help students build discipline, confidence, and focus.

During the training sessions, the students showed great interest and enthusiasm in learning shooting. Some of them had never seen or held an air rifle before, but with practice and guidance, they slowly learned the basic skills. Seeing their improvement and excitement during training made me very happy and proud.

During my time, I also had the opportunity to work alongside coach Sherab Zam from the Archery Federation who has been serving in the field for a year. With her experience and dedication, she has contributed greatly to developing young archers and guiding them with patience and knowledge. Her guidance and support during the sessions helped create a positive learning environment for the students.

This experience also reminded me of my personal dream. My dream is to help develop more young shooters in Bhutan and guide them to become skilled athletes who can represent the country in the future.”

Working alongside her, Sherab Zam continues to nurture young archers with the same patience and dedication that shaped her own journey. Together, the two coaches represent a powerful continuation of Bhutan’s Olympic spirit, athletes who once carried the nation’s hopes and who now guide the next generation with the same determination.

The story of how shooting and archery found a home within Chundu Armed Force Public School is a reflection of what becomes possible when ideas are supported by commitment, collaboration, and belief. The support of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, the initiative of the Bhutan Shooting Federation, the openness of the school leadership, and the dedication of coaches and students have all come together to turn a simple idea into a meaningful reality.

In Bhutan, progress in sports does not always arrive in grand headlines. Often it begins quietly in classrooms, school grounds, and training halls where young athletes take their first steps with curiosity and determination.

And perhaps somewhere within this school in Haa, among students carefully learning to steady an air rifle or draw a bowstring toward a distant target, stands a future Olympian who will one day carry Bhutan’s dream even further.

Because in Bhutan, dreams rarely disappear. They simply find their way into the hands of the next generation.

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