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Bhutan cricket star

21 February 2009

DAMPO: The face of cricket in Bhutan

DAMPO: The face of cricket in Bhutan

Sonam Letso, popularly known as Dampo, never thought he would ever play against international teams. He hopes that Bhutan would excel in cricket like India after winning the “man of the match” title twice in the Asian Cricket Council Trophy Challenge.

“I was very happy when I got the man of the match title but it was quite upsetting when we lost against Oman by 8 wickets,” he said. “However, I try not to think about the loss but the benefits it gives as loosing is part of every game and we have to face it.”

Dampo is now in Thimphu for his holidays. He spends his time practising cricket for 3-4 hours every day with his team-mates on the Yangchenphu Higher Secondary School (YHSS) ground. He also coaches a team in Gelephu.

He says there are parents in Gelephu who wanted their children to play cricket. He has inspired many young people in Gelephu, many of whom are into the sport just like him.

Dampo started playing cricket since 1994, when he was 11. He says cricket is his career and he has no other plans for the future than playing cricket. He has a younger brother, who too plays cricket. His family members have been supportive to his career as a cricketer and he does not want to work in any other organisation.

Dampo says playing cricket is not all about tossing a ball and running but it requires a lot of practice and talent as well. He believes that talent is a key factor to a team’s victory.

As a child, Dampo imitated Sachin Tendulkar, his Indian cricket hero.

He loves the sport so much that he even wants his children to become cricketers. Now 24, Dampo is happy as a coach in Gelephu and hopes that, one day, he too will have his own cricket team.

By  Kinzang Choden

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Posted by Chime · Filed Under Sports 

Comments

10 Responses to “Bhutan cricket star”

  1. nam on February 21st, 2009 3:49 pm

    keep it up boy!!!!……. but dont lose focus on your studies. I used to have friends in high school who were very popular because of sports. They played football for the National Team, its unfortunate that they could not concentrate on studies because of constant practice and numerous football matches.

    Although they are still happy and playing football, but somehow I think they missed an opportunity to pursue higher education.

    I hope you know what I mean.

    Good Luck!!!

  2. Ottayan on February 21st, 2009 4:32 pm

    My best wishes to Dampo. As nam says do not ignore your studies.

  3. tashiJ on February 22nd, 2009 9:45 am

    To Kinzang Choden :: A piece of advice for you. Your reporting is good but incomplete. Just imagine how complete a picture it will give the readers if you gave some academic background of Dampo also?

    To Dampo:: You are doing great, keep it up. We are proud of you. I don’t know if you are still pursuing your studies but if you are still studying, DO NOT IGNORE YOUR STUDIES AT ALL COST. At least get a degree. You know people with high qualifications are jobless these days and “proffesional sports career as a means of living” is a distant reality in our country. Right now, you play cricket and you keep studying well too.

  4. ngwang sopa on February 28th, 2009 10:07 pm

    hi sonam ,, doy ou remmber me ?? is me ngawang sopa from zigar monastrey in tsopema ( india) today i am very proud of you becoz you did want you want ,,,i also remmber when we play the cricket in our monatsrey and your are the one of the best player in our team ,,,,so please keep it up ,,hope and pray you will make our country proud one day ,,,buddha bless you and enjoy your life with cricket,,,i wish one day i play in your team ,,hahaha ,,,,tashi delek ,,,from ngawang sopa

  5. Nima tshering on March 1st, 2009 7:38 pm

    keep it up and keep Bhutan up always

  6. tashiJ on March 2nd, 2009 8:06 am

    hey…is Dampo a “getey” from Tshopema??…hahaha….

  7. kinzang choden on March 3rd, 2009 12:32 pm

    hi tashij
    thanks for the comment .. dampo quit his studies long time back … he ain’t studying ne more ..i have mentioned indirectly in the article .. anyway will keep that in mind next time i write any article … keep dropping in ..:) good day

  8. tashiJ on March 3rd, 2009 2:08 pm

    thanks KC…I realized now why you ambiguously mentioned about Dampo’s academic background….as a Bhutanese fellow, I am happy he is making a name for all of us- Bhutan…….but as a Buddhist, I am sad he did not continue his buddhist studies….I know at least a dozen “geteys” from Zigar Monastery in Tshopema, India……I hope that Dampo will not be an inspiration to the other monks who are still there in the Zigar Monastery like Ngawang Sopa to change their colored robes and leave monastery in search of worldy accomplishments and prides!!

    OM MANI PADME HUNG.

  9. Tshering on March 4th, 2009 3:49 pm

    keep it up Dampo, u r the good cricketter ever seen in Bhutan

  10. sensye on August 28th, 2009 10:33 am

    i ve been playing cricket since i was nine years old n at that time most of the ppl didnt kno wat cricket was if m ryt.i was so passionate about this game. i didnt do any coaching but it was all my effort that i understood the game all by myself and became better evereyday.i didnt take any coaching but if u ask me any better ways of playing cricket i will be at ur service. i havent got any chances of being in the national squad but certainly if m in the team bhutan will excel in international level. m not exggrting,m not so tall but i can bat fabulously like i can bowl swiftly at the speed of 130km/hr(avg).if every1 doesnt blieve me meet me or contact me at sensye605@gmail.com

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