Arya News - When the Fifth Asian Youth Para Games open in Dubai this week, two young Bhutanese para-athletes will carry not only the national colours but also stories of resilience shaped in the quiet corners of Thimphu and Dagana.
THIMPHU – When the Fifth Asian Youth Para Games open in Dubai this week, two young Bhutanese para-athletes will carry not only the national colours but also stories of resilience shaped in the quiet corners of Thimphu and Dagana.
They represent the hopes of the nation’s para-sport community, demonstrating that with the right platform, disability does not define one’s potential for excellence.
The Games will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from December 7 to 14, featuring more than 1,500 para-athletes aged 14 to 20 from over 45 countries.
Seventeen-year-old shot-putter Ugyen Sonam Choden, a Class IX student from Yangchen Gatshel Higher Secondary School in Thimphu, will compete in her first international event, a journey that also marks her first trip abroad.
Alongside her is 14-year-old Cheyang Kuenchap, a Class IV wheelchair badminton player from Gesarling Central School in Dagana. His athletic journey began unexpectedly when a viral video of him dancing captured the attention of a national coach.
Fueled by months of determined training and a dream to finish among the top three, Ugyen Sonam Choden is excited for the Games. Hailing from Drugyel, Paro, she views Dubai as a developed city and says she cannot wait to explore it.
Although the daughter of divorced parents who has faced challenges due to her short stature, these circumstances have not limited her ambitions.
“Under the guidance of my coach from the Bhutan Paralympic Committee and my school sports instructor, I have undergone rigorous training for the last five months. I expect a good result,” she said, adding that her mother, principal, and teachers have constantly encouraged her.
Ugyen Sonam Choden believes people with disabilities should embrace who they are, pursue their passions, and never give up. “We all have the ability to succeed, but we must not hesitate to come forward. I will keep training in shot put,” she said.
Her coach, Tashi Jamtsho, stated her marked improvement over recent months. “My expectation is simply to see her perform at her best, especially since this is her first international competition,” he said. “This experience will motivate her and build her confidence.”
Cheyang Kuenchap, from Wamrong, Trashigang, has lower-limb impairments and uses a wheelchair. He trains at Gesarling Central School and will compete in the WH2 classification, a category for players with strong upper-body and trunk control. He will undergo formal reclassification during the Games.
“In previous international games, I competed without a wheelchair, and it was challenging,” Cheyang Kuenchap said. “Now I am trained in a wheelchair, and I expect to do better.”
He expressed gratitude to his coach, the Bhutan Badminton Federation, the Bhutan Olympic Committee, and the Bhutan Paralympic Committee. “I hope to make my country and school proud,” he added.
Cheyang Kuenchap, who has had his disability since birth, remains optimistic and strives to do his best in all endeavours. Besides badminton, he enjoys painting, a skill he developed while studying at Draktsho School in Trashigang.
According to his coach, Dorji, Cheyang Kuenchap has trained in a wheelchair for two years and is progressing well. Their partnership began after a viral video of Cheyang Kuenchap dancing to a traditional song in social media caught Dorji’s eye.
“I could see he had potential,” said Coach Dorji, a badminton coach at the Bhutan Badminton Federation in Thimphu.
After securing support from the federation, the Bhutan Olympic Committee, and Cheyang Kuenchap’s parents, he initially brought Cheyang Kuenchap from Draktsho School in Kanglung to Thimphu for training.
To balance education and training, Cheyang Kuenchap was later transferred to Gesarling Central School, with Dorji traveling from Thimphu to Dagana to coach him.
“My objective was to give a platform to a person like Cheyang Kuenchap and help him become an independent individual,” Dorji said. “Sports provide such opportunities.”
Cheyang Kuenchap has previously competed at the Japan Para Badminton International 2024 and the Thailand Para Badminton International 2025.
Regardless of the outcome, the participation of Bhutanese para-athletes in a major international tournament is a crucial step toward encouraging more young people with disabilities to engage in sports.