Pelthop Wangyel Tshering is an anomaly in a world that confines sports and education in opposite paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 11, the Bhutanese youngster is not only ranked as the nation\u2019s top U-12 junior tennis player but is also ranked second in the U-14 and third in the U-16 list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that is not the only encouraging accomplishment by the lad, who took up the game when he was just six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI scored 94% at the Board Exam. The top national student scored 97%,\u201d beamed Pelthop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 94 percentage at the Bhutan Board Examination for Class VI also puts him among the top 10 national achievers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier today, he was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Pakistan\u2019s Rafi Al in the classification match. But, don\u2019t ever mistakenly assume that the defeat was going to affect him adversely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pelthop, who picked up the game at the behest of his father Rinchen Tshering, believes he can only improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want to be Bhutan\u2019s number one player within the next five years,\u201d said the confident Pelthop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes I also play in the U18 tournaments back home. Last year I finished fourth in the U-18 competition,\u201d said Pelthop, who also wants to be an IT engineer while simultaneously playing tennis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have a younger sister ((Nyingdruk Palmo), who is six and she has started playing tennis,\u201d he added proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pelthop made his junior international debut two years ago in Nepal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did not do well there and last year I also played in a team event representing Bhutan, but I could not help the team,\u201d said Pelthop, who was quick to add that he is working hard to improve his game and gain the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is currently coached by Ravi Shankar of India and under his guidance, Pelthop also travels to Calcutta for intensive training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI went to Calcutta for training five times last year,\u201d said Pelthop, who is targeting a top five ATP Under-12 rankings by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n