Pema Norbu Makes History as Bhutan’s First ITF Masters Champion
Bhutanese tennis player Pema Norbu has made national history by winning the Men’s Singles Over-35 title at the ITF World Masters Tennis Tour in Thailand, becoming the first Bhutanese to claim an ITF Masters championship and soaring to world rank 174 in his age category.
Bhutan has marked a proud milestone on the global tennis stage. Thirty-six-year-old Pema Norbu has become the first Bhutanese athlete to win an ITF World Masters Tennis Tour title, triumphing in the Men’s Singles Over-35 category in Thailand. His victory propelled him to rank 174 in the world for his age group, a remarkable achievement among more than 35,000 registered ITF Masters players.
Early Beginnings and a Promising Rise
Hailing from Trashigang, Pema first picked up a racquet in 2001 at just 12 years old. As a promising junior, he represented Bhutan in the U14, U16, and U18 categories between 2002 and 2007, eventually becoming a National Junior Champion. But life took him away from the sport for several years as he navigated personal challenges.
A Strong Comeback
His return to the court in 2019 marked a new chapter. Pema clinched the Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel National Open Championship and went on to secure a bronze medal at the 13th South Asian Games in Nepal. Although the pandemic slowed his progress, he once again carried the national colours at the Davis Cup from 2022 to 2024.
Entering the Global Masters Circuit
This year, Pema stepped into the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour with zero world ranking, starting with the MT100 tournament in Assam. Competing in both singles and doubles in the 35-plus category, he reached the singles final and doubles semifinals, earning Bhutan’s first-ever ITF Masters ranking—1208 in the 35-plus category.
His form continued to soar. At the MT200 tournament in Jamshedpur, he finished runner-up in both singles and doubles, climbing to 662. At the MT400 tournament in Pattaya, he advanced to the semifinals and rose to 488, signalling his growing presence on the circuit.
A Breakthrough Victory in Pattaya
From 9 to 14 this month, Pema returned to Pattaya for another MT400 tournament and delivered his strongest performance yet. Facing 11 athletes from nine countries, he overcame opponents from India, Ukraine, and China to claim the championship title.
Reflecting on his achievement, he shared, “I am very happy to have you know for the first time become a champion at an international level. It has always been my dream to win National and International tournaments, and I had to really work hard to get where I am today, and I am grateful for all the struggles.”
Challenges Behind the Success
The landmark win earned him 660 points and pushed him up to world ranking 174. But Pema’s rise has come with significant challenges. He explained, “It is quite difficult to perform well in international tournaments when you don’t have financial support from the financial institutions or if you don’t have any sponsors. So you have to pay for everything yourself, starting from the airfare, the hotels, everything you have to spend from your own pocket, that is quite difficult, and on top of that, you have to train, you have no coaches.”
Despite the obstacles, his commitment remains strong—training two hours a day during off-season and up to four hours when preparing for competitions.
Elevating Bhutan on the World Stage
The ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, regarded as the pinnacle competition for players aged 30 to over 90, offers a global platform for seasoned athletes to compete. With his breakthrough victory, Pema Norbu has not only carried Bhutan to new heights in the international tennis arena but also sparked fresh inspiration among aspiring players back home.
