Growing up in a society where accessibility for people with disabilities was often limited, Chimi faced daily struggles. Basic tasks like traveling to and from school were difficult, requiring constant assistance from her parents.

She attended Saleng Primary School up to Class 6 before moving to Gyelpozhing Higher Secondary School for Classes 7 to 10. However, after not qualifying from Class 10, she completed her higher secondary education at Nima Higher Secondary School.

Despite not facing extreme discrimination, she did experience moments where society focused more on her limitations rather than her potential. In a country where para-sports were still in their infancy, the idea of an athlete with disabilities competing internationally was not widely accepted.

Finding employment was another challenge. After completing high school, she managed to secure a job as a dispatcher in a private company. However, in 2018, she lost her job due to a lack of an inclusive working environment. This setback left her uncertain about her future and questioning the opportunities available to her.
After losing her job, Chimi was living with her brother and managing with daily expenses. It was then that a friend of her brother introduced her to para-sports, an emerging field in Bhutan at the time.

“I wasn’t sure at first and was hesitant about the opportunities. But with encouragement from my brother and his friend, I decided to give it a shot.”

In 2018, she registered for para-athletics training and committed herself fully to developing the skills needed to compete at an international level.