Pelthop Wangyel Tshering
Pelthop Wangyel Tshering is an anomaly in a world that confines sports and education in opposite paths.
At 11, the Bhutanese youngster is not only ranked as the nation’s top U-12 junior tennis player but is also ranked second in the U-14 and third in the U-16 list.
But that is not the only encouraging accomplishment by the lad, who took up the game when he was just six.
“I scored 94% at the Board Exam. The top national student scored 97%,” beamed Pelthop.
The 94 percentage at the Bhutan Board Examination for Class VI also puts him among the top 10 national achievers.
The effervescent youngster has been playing second fiddle with older players at the ongoing ATF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex.
Earlier today, he was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Pakistan’s Rafi Al in the classification match. But, don’t ever mistakenly assume that the defeat was going to affect him adversely.
Pelthop, who picked up the game at the behest of his father Rinchen Tshering, believes he can only improve.
“I want to be Bhutan’s number one player within the next five years,” said the confident Pelthop.
He wants to emulate or better the record of current Bhutanese national champion Tenzin Singye Dorji, who is currently on a full scholarship studying and playing tennis in the USA. Tenzin was the youngest Bhutanese national champion when he was just 15.
“Sometimes I also play in the U18 tournaments back home. Last year I finished fourth in the U-18 competition,” said Pelthop, who also wants to be an IT engineer while simultaneously playing tennis.
Ambitious to some some but he may have the right genes to achieve the double success. His dad is attached with the United Nations, working on bio diversity projects while mom Kinzang Chodien is a tax consultant.
“I have a younger sister ((Nyingdruk Palmo), who is six and she has started playing tennis,” he added proudly.
Pelthop made his junior international debut two years ago in Nepal.
“I did not do well there and last year I also played in a team event representing Bhutan, but I could not help the team,” said Pelthop, who was quick to add that he is working hard to improve his game and gain the experience.
He is currently coached by Ravi Shankar of India and under his guidance, Pelthop also travels to Calcutta for intensive training.
“I went to Calcutta for training five times last year,” said Pelthop, who is targeting a top five ATP Under-12 rankings by the end of the year.
The youngster, who loves reading especially fantasy series like Harry Potter, may be seen as setting high goals but he does have the drive, determination and the vision to realise them.
Meanwhile, Week 1 runners-up in the girl’s singles, Aissata Enkhzaya Adama of Mongolia was shown the exit in the quarter-finals. Singapore’s Wang Zixi edged out the Mongolian ace 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Filipina Maristella Torrecampo of the Philippines, however, was in her normal dominating self. The pint-sized player was in total control as she defeated Kanza Ismail Hameed of the Maldives 6-1, 6-0.
The boys singles saw week one champion Le Phu Gia on course for another win, with a crushing 6-1, 6-1 win over Muhammad Ibraheem Gill of Pakistan.
Also through to the semi-finals is Singaporean Leon Ho Wei Xi, whom Phu Gia defeated in last week’s final. Leon overcame a late resistance from Filipino Marcus Lorenzo Go, winning 6-0, 7-5.
Phu Gia’ s doubles partner Vu Tuan Phong and Leon’s doubles partner Nicholas Ming En Pak are also into the semi-finals.
The four will once again clash in the boy’s doubles final. Phu Gia-Tuan Phong defeated the Singaporean duo in the final last week.
The girls doubles final will see Nguyen Linh Nji-To Binh Nhieh of Vietnam taking on Mongolia’s Khuslen Munkhbayar-Aissata.
RESULTS
Boys Singles quarter-finals: Vu Tuan Phong (Vie) bt Muhammad Muaz (Pak) 6-1, 6-2; Le Phu Gia (Vie) bt Muhammad Ibraheem Gill (Pak) 6-1, 6-1; Nicholas Ming En Pak (Sgp) bt Alexi Luca Rafael Aldemita (Phi) 6-1, 6-2; Leon Ho Wei Xi (Sgp) bt Marcus Lorenzo Go (Sgp) 6-0, 7-5
Boys Singles Classification: Mean Sophanith (Cam) bt Urnukh Munkhireedui (Mgl) 6-2, 6-3; Aleksander Mikheichev (Cam) bt Sanaxay Chansomphou (Lao) 6-0, 6-0; Phoupha Chanthavong (Lao) bt Yousuf Zaain Salaam (Mdv) 6-2, 6-7 (8-10), 10-6; Batsaikhan Munkhochir (Mgl) bt Mohamed Alson Sameer (Mdv) 6-2, 6-4; Dudu Tenzin (Bhu) bt Islam Md Jobair (Ban) 6-4, 6-4; Joel Lim (Bru) bt Xaveier Brito de Carvalho (Tls) 6-3, 6-1; Rafi Al (Pak) bt Tshering Pelthop (Bhu) 6-2, 6-3
Boys doubles semi-finals: Nicholas Ming En Pak-Leon Ho Wei Xi (Sgp) bt Sanaxay Chansomphou-Phoupha Chantavong (Lao) 6-2, 6-1; Le Phu Gia-Vu Thuan Phong (Vie) bt Marcus Lorenzo Go (Phi) bt Alexi Luca Rafael Aldemita (Phi) 6-3, 6-4
Girls Singles quarter-finals: Maristella Torrecampo (Phi) bt Kanza Ismail Hameed (Mdv) 6-1, 6-0; To Binh Nhieh (Vie) bt Hannah Tay (Sgp) 6-3, 6-2; Nguyen Linh Nhi (Vie) bt Khajida Khalil (Pak) 6-2, 6-1; Wang Zixi (Sgp) bt Aissata Enkhzaya Adama (Mgl) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Girls Singles Classification: Mastora Afrin (Ban) bt Soares Ofelia (Tls) 6-1, 6-2; Ella Mhae Paglalunan (Phi) bt Silivet Chanthaphone (Lao) 6-0, 6-0; Khuslen Munkhbayar (Mgl) bt Eesha Rabbi (Pak) 6-3, 6-2; Jannat Howlader (Ban) bt Goh Wei Rou (Bru) 6-0, 6-1; Manixone Phommavong (Lao) bt Yidhenma Yithro Yiotshog (Bhu) 6-2, 6-1; Esther Srun Chomnith (Cam) bt Yangchen Sumeru (Bhu) 6-4, 6-0; Isra Aara Ibrahim Shafeeu (Mdv) bt Lopes Dos Santos (Tls) 6-0, 6-1
Girls Doubles semi-finals: Nguyen Linh Nji-To Binh Nhieh (Vie) bt Ella Mhae Paglalunan-Maristella Torrecampo (Phi) 3-6, 6-2, 10-6; Khuslen Munkhbayar-Aissata Enkhzaya Adama (Mgl) bt Jannat Howlader-Mastora Afrin (Ban) 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
