The Indo – Bhutan Friendship Club Games
The Indo – Bhutan Friendship Club Games focusing on females could be the key to fostering friendship, cooperation, and cultural exchange between nations by focusing on women’s teams that demonstrate a commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The main Objective of the game is to promote and strengthen the bond between two regions, transcending borders through the universal language of sports. We believe that this friendly match will not only be a display of athletic prowess but also an opportunity for cultural exchange and friendship.
The Indo- Bhutan Friendship Women’s Club Games as the most prestigious tournament of the nation, was organized by the Basketball Federation of Bhutan (BFB) from the 27th September, 2024 till 29th September, 2024 at the Swimming Pool Indoor Basketball Court.
Two teams from India participated in the Club Game, Basketball Association of Sikkim and KAGA Basketball Academy from Siliguri. Thimphu United participated in the game, as a representative of Basketball Federation of Bhutan. The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Women’s Club Games is organized by the Basketball Federation of Bhutan and funded by The Embassy of India and Bhutan Olympic Committee. The details and score of the Game are as follows;
Day 1. 27th Sept. Thimphu United v/s KAGA Basketball Academy, Siliguri (91 v/s 05)
Day 2. 28th Sept. Basketball Association of Sikkim v/s KAGA Basketball Academy, Siliguri (122 v/s 15)
Day 3. 29th Sept. Basketball Association of Sikkim v/s Thimphu United (53 v/s 69 )
The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Women’s Club Games took place at the Indoor Basketball Stadium, Thimphu. Almost 100 individuals attended the opening of the game including school students, athletes, teachers and representatives from the respective federation attended the opening on the 27th September. The first Secretary from the Embassy of India, Mr. Ranjan Shenoy attended the event opening as the chief guest. Representatives from the Ministry of Education under the Department of Youth and Sports also attended the opening of the event.
The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Women’s Club Games was successfully completed with the support of the Embassy of India and Bhutan Olympic Committee. The local transport and sightseeing for the two teams for India was sponsored by Goenzang and Dharma Traders.
Tournament with the support from our Sponsor has enabled our entire basketball enthusiast spread over the globe to watch and support their teams through our YouTube Live. YouTube Live has been very successful in reaching the people not only within the nation but also our basketball supporters residing outside of the country. The Federation also used YouTube Live to showcase our sponsors in order to bring awareness of our Sponsor that have invested in youth development and also assisted the Federation in promoting sports in the nation. The Federation has also used ground advertisements for our sponsors so that the spectators can also witness how active our sponsors are in building a strong and healthy youth for the future. The three day event was covered by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service on the 30th September, 2024 and by Bhutan Today on the 27th September, 2024.
5 Nation Championship
In a performance that will be etched in the annals of Bhutanese sports history, the national men’s basketball team clinched the Five Nation Championship title in Malé, Maldives 2023. This victory represents much more than a trophy; it marks the culmination of years of dedication, resilience, and the rapidly growing passion for basketball within the Kingdom. For the first time, the “Dragon Cagers” have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Bhutan’s journey through the tournament was a classic underdog story defined by grit and determination. After a challenging league phase, the team faced a formidable Nepal side in the semi-finals. In a heart-stopping finish that set the tone for their championship run, Sonam Tshering Jattu drained a dramatic three-pointer at the final buzzer to secure a 61-60 victory. This win not only boosted the team’s morale but also signaled to the region that Bhutan was prepared to fight until the very last second.
The final showdown against Bangladesh was equally intense, serving as a masterclass in composure under pressure. Despite trailing late in the fourth quarter, the Bhutanese players remained disciplined and focused. With the game on the line and only seconds remaining, a decisive layup followed by a successful free throw sealed a 62-60 win. The sound of the final whistle sparked emotional celebrations on the court and across Bhutan, as fans followed the nail-biting conclusion via live broadcasts and social media.