Junior Giants Summer Program Concludes with Certificate Awards, Promising Talents, and a Vision for the Future

The Junior Giants Summer Program came to a vibrant close yesterday with a heartwarming certificate award ceremony, celebrating a week of energy, sportsmanship, and talent discovery. Hosted under the Bhutan Olympic Committee’s youth initiative, the program brought together 16 passionate young participants who showed remarkable dedication throughout the week-long camp.

Originally, 20 participants signed up for the summer program, but due to health concerns and personal reasons, the final tally stood at 16 — 10 males and 6 females. Most participants were still in school, with one recent Class 12 graduate. The age group ranged from 9 to 18, with a few standout older athletes (aged 19–20) joining due to their strong sporting backgrounds.

From taekwondo and volleyball to swimming, archery, and basketball, the Junior Giants proved to be a dynamic mix of budding athletes. Throughout the camp, talent assessments were conducted by respective national federations based on Talent Identification Sheets and a General Fitness Test (GFT). The GFT measured core athletic capabilities — including power, reaction, strength, speed, and flexibility.

Federation Assessment Schedule:

Day 1: Bhutan Amateur Athletic Federation (Athletics)
Day 2: Basketball Federation of Bhutan
Day 3: Bhutan Archery Federation
Day 4: Bhutan Volleyball Federation

Among those who shone were:

Sonam Yoezer Wangmo (18, Yangchenphu HSS) – Athletics
Kinga Norbu Wangchuk (15, Karma Academy) – Basketball
Kelson Ugyen Wangchuk (15, studying in India) – Basketball, and the tallest participant at 193 cm

The tallest female was 13-year-old Tshering Yangki, standing tall at 176 cm.

The closing ceremony was graced by Nim Dorji, the Chief Guest, who in his address said:

“What I witnessed here is not just physical strength, but the strength of spirit, teamwork, and the dreams of a brighter future for Bhutanese sports.”

Adding to the inspiration, Sonam Namgyal, the Brand Ambassador of Junior Giants, shared moving words with the participants:

“You may be young now, but you are already leaders in your journey. Keep pushing, stay curious, and never stop believing in the power of your dreams. This is your beginning — make it count.”

Program Feedback Highlights:

13 of the 16 participants felt very comfortable and found the program suitable.
While some asked for more advanced drills and longer sessions, coaching was praised for its supportiveness.
Basketball was the most loved sport, followed by archery, swimming, volleyball, and others.
Participants loved team-based challenges and called for more fun elements like games, music, and competitions.
Many reported increased confidence, stronger teamwork, and greater exposure to sports.

Encouraged by the success of this pilot program, plans are already in motion to expand the Junior Giants program this winter to Punakha, Wangdue, and Gasa. Future editions will focus on age, height, and interest-based grouping — aiming to build a national talent pool for sports development.

The Bhutan Olympic Committee will continue collaborating with federations to:

Mentor even those not selected for training.
Maintain a national youth sports database.
Create bridges between young athletes and sporting bodies.

With the Junior Giants Summer Program 2025 now officially concluded, it’s safe to say — this is just the beginning of something big. The next generation of Bhutanese athletes has taken its first leap, and the future looks stronger than ever.