𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐤𝐩𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧

…𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈

By Tashi Tshewang

The Bhutan Bodybuilding Association successfully represented the nation at the 19th South East Asian and 57th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship 2025, held from August 18 to 25 in Bangkok, Thailand. Four athletes- Sonam Phuntsho, Dawa Tashi, Chencho Drukpa, and Ugyen Pema- carried Bhutan’s flag on the international stage, competing among the region’s best.

The team was led by Dr. Sonam Maekay Penjor, President of the Association, and General Secretary Sonam Tobgay, who provided guidance and support throughout the championship. Bhutan’s athletes showcased determination and discipline across multiple categories, earning both recognition and respect.

Among the standout performances, Chencho Drukpa secured an impressive third place in the Men’s Athletic Physique over 182 cm category, marking a significant achievement for the country. He also competed in the Mixed Pair category on August 22 and the Men’s Athletic Physique up to 182 cm on August 24, earning admiration for his consistency and stage presence. Dawa Tashi participated in the men’s events, while Ugyen Pema competed in the Women’s Model Physique category against eleven strong contenders, highlighting the growing role of Bhutanese women in bodybuilding.

Though the competition was fierce, Bhutan’s participation reflected the athletes’ commitment and the country’s rising presence in the sport. The Association expressed gratitude to the athletes for embodying resilience, discipline, and national pride, and pledged continued support to nurture bodybuilding in Bhutan.

Sonam Tobgay, General Secretary of the Bhutan Bodybuilding Association, said, “Financial and logistical support is vital. We need to secure sponsorships and funding to ease the burden on athletes, ensuring smooth travel, accommodation, and participation in overseas events. At the same time, we must invest in long-term athlete development programs, starting from grassroots to elite levels, so that future athletes are better prepared to represent Bhutan globally.”

He added, “Bodybuilding should be embraced not only as a sport but as a lifestyle that fosters discipline, confidence, and contributes to a healthier Bhutanese society. Partnerships with gyms and fitness centers are crucial. By collaborating with local gyms, we can provide affordable memberships and training opportunities, especially for students and young enthusiasts. Consistent participation in international events will allow Bhutanese athletes to build visibility and credibility on the global stage.”

Reflecting on his achievement, Chencho Drukpa said, “This time I just followed a very clean and strict diet and made sure I was ready for both categories. It was not easy, but I tried to stay calm and focused. Practicing posing again and again helped me stay steady on stage. I also controlled my mind a lot because when you compete in more than one category, it’s easy to lose energy and focus. Staying disciplined with food, training, and rest made the biggest difference. Honestly, it was just hard work and staying consistent. I never cheated on my diet, never missed a workout, and pushed myself more than before. Because of that, I was able to bring a better package, more at an international level, and that gave me confidence on stage.”

Chencho reflected on his journey, saying, “My past experiences, finishing fourth at the World Championships in Singapore 2010 and South Asian Championships in 2011, fueled my determination to improve and finally achieve a podium finish. Winning third place this time feels like a small step forward from my past experience, and I am very thankful. This result really motivates me to keep improving. I know I still have a lot to learn, so I will train harder, fix my weak points, and try to bring a better package next time. At this championship, I also learned many new ideas and received advice from international coaches and athletes. That gave me extra inspiration and encouragement for the future. My goal is to keep improving, represent Bhutan better, and show that with discipline, we can achieve something on the international stage.”

Ugyen Pema shared her experience as a female participant: “As a female bodybuilder, the challenge I faced was people not understanding that this sport is not only about muscles but also about aesthetics, grace, and discipline. Many still think it’s only for men, but I believe women can also be strong and beautiful in their own way. I overcame this by focusing on shaping my body with balance and elegance, and by remembering that this sport celebrates both strength and femininity. I trained with more focus on shaping my body, especially shoulders and glutes, because that is important for Model Physique. The main lesson I learned is that discipline and patience are more important than quick results.”

She emphasized that bodybuilding is not just about competition, but about inspiring women to embrace confidence, health, and self-care without fear of judgment. “My message to all is don’t be afraid to follow what you love. Bodybuilding can teach you confidence and discipline. As a mother, I know how easy it is to forget about yourself while taking care of everyone else. Bodybuilding taught me that it is never too late to take back your health and shape your dream body again. To young girls, I want to say, don’t be afraid to look after yourself. With patience and discipline, you can feel confident, strong, and beautiful in your own skin. Even if people doubt you, just stay focused and work hard. If I can do it, everyone can also do it.”

Dawa Tashi highlighted the importance of comprehensive preparation: “In the Men’s Physique category, the focus is on the upper body, especially shoulders, lats, biceps, triceps, and chest, to create that V-taper look. Posing training is equally important, including practicing wide lats, keeping a tight waist, and perfecting stage presence. While upper body development is crucial, achieving balance and proportion requires training the whole body. Lower-body workouts, core strength, and overall conditioning are equally important to present a complete and harmonious physique on stage. Beyond physical preparation, mental focus, consistency in training, and discipline in diet play a critical role in performing well.”

Reflecting on the Asian Championship, he added, “The competition feels very different compared to Mr. Bhutan or the South Asian Championship. In Asia, there are many competitors in the Athletic category. In South Asia, the level of athleticism and judging is not as intense. In my category, the competitors are the best of the best, in peak condition. I also noticed a very professional judging system, 39 judges from different countries, with nine judging at a time, rotating to ensure fairness. Competing at this level is truly professional, and it pushes you to bring your absolute best. Many people think Men’s Physique is just about the upper body, but the lower part is just as important. You should never skip lower-body workouts, because good proportions make the physique complete on stage.”