July 8, 2024
THIMPHU – National recurve archer Lam Dorji from the Bhutan Archery Federation (BAF) will travel to France on July 10 to participate in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, scheduled between July 26 and August 11.
He has been training for many months now. He will be accompanied by his Korean coach, Park Young Sook.
Lam is travelling ahead of the two Bhutanese participants, swimmer Sangay Tenzin and runner Kinzang Lhamo, for acclimatisation and intensive training.
Lam Dorji, 28, from Samdrupjongkhar, is one of the senior archers at the BAF. He has competed in 20 international tournaments so far.
Considering his commendable national and international game exposures, Lam is determined to do his best. However, he said it would be challenging.
Lam is optimistic about breaking his personal records.
His current personal record is 644 points.
“It is the dream of every athlete to represent their country at the Olympics. I am excited. I will try my best,” Lam said, adding that he didn’t face any challenge so far in his training.
In his recent performance in a tournament in Turkey, Lam scored 644 points, which is four points ahead of the minimum qualifying score of 640 points. However, he was eliminated in the second round
The International Olympic Committee provided the opportunity for three Bhutanese athletes through a universal place.
The only female participant is the runner Kinzang Lhamo, 25, from Trashigang. She is an army personnel and has been a regular participant in all major marathon competitions in the country.
For the last six months, Kinzang has been undergoing rigorous training in Thimphu with the help of the Bhutan Amateur Athletic Federation (BAAF). She will compete in the 42-kilometre (km) marathon at the Olympics.
The upcoming Olympics will mark the debut international tournament and the first Olympic participation for Kinzang.
Kinzang also aspires to perform better than her current record. Her existing record is 3 hours and 26 minutes in the 42km marathon, which she achieved at the Bhutan International Marathon held in Punakha in March this year.
In the 2022 Snowman Race, Kinzang stood second.
BAAF’s official said that Kinzang is a promising runner and her performance has been consistent so far. However, the official is not sure how Kinzang will cope in the Olympics as the 42km run will be held in a plain area.
Swimmer Sangay Tenzin currently trains in Phuket, Thailand, under the guidance of a Russian coach.