Thinley Namgay
For the first time, Bhutan will have a presence at the Asian Winter Games, thanks to 26-year-old alpine skier Chencho Dorji.
From Thimphu, he currently lives in Chamonix, France, training for the Ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, which will be held from February 7 to 14.
Chencho Dorji will be Bhutan’s sole representative at the event, marking a historic debut for both the athlete and the country.
Under the theme “Dream of Winter, Love Among Asia”, the Games will bring together more than 1,270 athletes from 34 National Olympic Committees across the continent.
Chencho Dorji will compete in the slalom event on February 9, facing off against skiers from powerhouses like China, Japan, and South Korea.
Chencho Dorji
He has been training for several months, with a rigorous programme tailored to this competition. There will be around 40 skiers taking part in different disciplines such as slalom.
For the Asian Winter Games, he aims to represent the country and to achieve the best possible result. “My target is to finish the race having given the best of myself, to continue to learn and progress, and to live this experience to the full,” he said.
He said it is not only an honour to represent the country, but also a recognition of the hard work he put into being a skier.
Having taken part in 10 international competitions over the past two years, securing 280 International Ski Federation (FIS) points, Chencho Dorji’s presence at the Winter Games is expected to provide good results.
FIS globally governs skiing and snowboarding and oversees over 7,000 events annually in Alpine, Cross-Country, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, and Freestyle.
Chencho Dorji is also a ski instructor and lifeguard, which allows him to combine his passion for sport with another professional career.
Spending childhood in France, his passion for winter sports began with his father, who worked as a first-aider and introduced him to skiing at an early age. Every winter, during trips to Chamonix, he would hit the slopes as much as possible, immersing himself in the sport.
However, it wasn’t until he was 18 that he decided to pursue skiing more seriously. He enrolled in the National Ski Diploma to become a ski instructor, which required him to take an alpine ski racing test in slalom. At that juncture, he had a deep desire to do something meaningful for the country.
“What inspired me was the Olympic dream of representing Bhutan,” Chencho Dorji said.
The most interesting part of being a skier, according to Chencho Dorji, is the feeling of speed, the adrenalin, the technical challenge, and the constant progression as one trains.
“My family and friends support me enormously, morally and financially, and by motivating me every day,” he said.
Chencho Dorji believes that career prospects in skiing are enormous as it offers opportunities such as representing one’s country internationally, meeting athletes across the globe, living a unique experience and inspiring the younger generation to believe in their dreams.
Sports have always been a huge part of his life. He also likes tennis, football, and bodybuilding. “Each sport teaches me about discipline, focus, and perseverance, which augments my career in skiing,” he said.
However, Chencho Dorji said challenges in his ski journey include financing training and competitions, access to quality equipment, and the development of suitable infrastructures in his home country.
To develop skiing in Bhutan, Chencho Dorji suggested building suitable infrastructures, training local coaches, raising awareness among young people about skiing, and establishing partnerships with international federations to obtain equipment and funding.
As of now, Bhutan does not have facilities for winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating. Currently, Bhutan’s high-altitude, snow-covered regions remain untapped for winter sports.
