The Bhutan Olympic Committee has opened a boxing academy in conjunction with the Chundu Armed Forces Public School ©Facebook/BOC

The Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC) has opened a boxing academy in conjunction with the Chundu Armed Forces Public School.

The centre will offer training in a newly-built hall and 11 girls and 11 boys are part of the initial intake.

The number of youth boxers is expected to grow in the coming years.

It comes after an agreement was signed between the BOC and the school earlier this year.

Eleven girls and 11 boys will be the first intake for Bhutan's boxing academy but officials hope numbers will soon rise ©Facebook/BOC
Eleven girls and 11 boys will be the first intake for Bhutan's boxing academy but officials hope numbers will soon rise ©Facebook/BOC

The new academy is supported by the Royal Bhutan Army, the BOC and the Bhutan Boxing Federation.

Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, an International Olympic Committee member who has led the BOC since 2009, has been credited with inspiring the project.

The academy was built "to introduce boxing in schools and also provide our young boys and girls with the opportunity to participate, develop and excel in boxing," organisers said.

The new academy will initially be operated on a pilot basis for one year ©Facebook/BOC
The new academy will initially be operated on a pilot basis for one year ©Facebook/BOC

The centre is initially to run as a one-year pilot programme.

Bhutan first took part in the Olympics in 1984 but only sent competitors in archery until 2012.

The nation has not yet sent any boxers to the Olympics, though flyweight Tenzin Drugyel placed fifth in the Asian championships in Amman earlier this month.