For most Americans, the Himalayan nation of Bhutan is completely off their radar. Its population is a little over 3/4 of a million people, the streets have zero traffic lights, and the nation has only had television since 1998. Bhutan only opened its doors to foreigners in 1974. Yet, the population of Bhutan has interestingly adopted a traditional American pastime and made it their own; the sport of baseball.
The official national sport of Bhutan is archery, which dates back to the 10th century. To the village people of Bhutan, the sport is more than a game. Instead, it’s a ceremonial pastime and a necessary skill for the nation’s rugged terrain. Throughout its history, Bhutan has had no army to defend against attacks and has instead relied upon the village people with bows and arrows.
Before the introduction of baseball, Bhutan saw some success in cricket, a similar activity. However, the nation has never done particularly well in international tournaments. While baseball and cricket are similar in style, the lack of nations playing baseball in Southern Asia led to baseball being overlooked. The groundwork to introduce a baseball culture into Bhutan has always been present in the country, but no one has ever tried it. This all changed when a former Bhutanese cricket player, working in Bhutan’s Olympic Committee, and a former American baseball player collaborated in 2010 to invite local children to practice the sport after school.
Over 50 children of all ages showed up to the practice. Over time, more and more children showed up, and the attendance topped out at over 600 athletes. The sport’s entrance into Bhutan received international attention, thanks to a viral photo on the internet showing a makeshift baseball game being played in front of a Buddha statue.
After the sport’s success with children, baseball began to grow in popularity with people of all ages, leading to the creation of Bhutan’s first official baseball team. The club, based in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu, was named the Thimphu Red Pandas. An MLB.com article credited the name to the fact that”[Bhutan has] created a haven for endangered species. We thought that was something really special to recognize.” After the success of Thimphu’s team, other Bhutan cities created teams as well, eventually leading to the league having six franchises.
Now, each of the six teams in Bhutan’s league has an animal team name. The aforementioned Red Pandas, along with the Ravens, Cranes, Crocodiles, Rhinos, and Tuskers (a long-tusked elephant) are the names of the teams in Bhutan’s league. The MLB.com article further states that the league’s hope for the future is to donate profits to a fund promoting the protection of all six of the animals depicted by the mascots.
In 2021, Bhutan officially joined the World Baseball and Softball Confederation. In 2023, further validation came when the Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association was introduced into the Bhutan Olympic Committee, demonstrating Bhutan’s commitment to its newfound sport.
In a time where professional teams beg for taxpayer support for new billion-dollar stadiums, it is both incredible and refreshing to see the sport go back to its roots, intertwining tradition with love for playing.
