Mongolia’s new generation members as Buyandalai Bayarkhuigun, and Byambatsogt Tuguldur proved world level performance in the Battulga Memorial Tournament

The Battulga Memorial Tournament was Mongolia’s first national competition since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which took place in the city of Erdenet which is located in a developing area of the country. The competition delivered several big surprises and unexpected results in Erdenet City.

Mongolia’s two best male boxers. Asian Games winner Erdenebat Tsendbaatar and Chinzorig Baatarsukh were not able to reach the finals in the national tournament. Following these surprises, Mongolia’s next generation boxers such as Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu, Buyandalai Bayarkhuigun, Byambatsogt Tuguldur and Battumur Misheelt won the key weight classes in the Battulga Tournament.

Erdenet City hosted a few other national events in the previous years but its development in boxing is continuous. Mongolia’s first activity delivered fantastic top class bouts among the elite participants of the event. The women boxers could attend in three weight classes while the men athletes fought for the medals in five categories from the flyweight (52kg) up to the middleweight (75kg).

Altogether 29 women boxers competed in the Battulga Memorial Tournament, Mongolia’s bests were there in the event. Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg is Mongolia’s No.1 at the women’s flyweight (51kg) who eliminated two younger talents in the national event. She defeated Munguntsetseg Enkhjargal in the semi-finals of the event, and continued her winning path in a hectic final against Balsan Mungunsaran. 

ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Namuun Monkhor is Mongolia’s best lightweight (60kg) boxer but she had hard road to the finals of the Battulga Memorial Tournament. The 21-year-old talent won her contests by split decisions over former ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag and Erdenedalai Michidmaa in the last eight and in the semi-finals. Namuun Monkhor delivered her best performance in time against 18-year-old Ganzorig Badmaarag. 

Erdenetuya Enkhbaatar competed mostly at the welterweight (69kg) and represented the country in that category in the recent years. She has experiences from the recent ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships and AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The 24-year-old boxer controlled her contests at the middleweight (75kg) including her final against experienced Uranbileg Shinetsetseg.

The number of the male boxers was 41 in the five categories, and all of their top champions competed in the Battulga Memorial Tournament. Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu is one of the strongest punchers at the men’s flyweight (52kg) in the Asian continent who developed rapidly in the recent two years. The 24-year-old Mongolian had to do his very best to beat a teenage rival, Enkhzorigt Sukhbat in the final of the event which was only split decision in the favour of Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu.

The men’s featherweight (57kg) was the strongest category in the Battulga Memorial Tournament in Erdenet City. Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Champion Erdenebat Tsendbaatar eliminated Summer Universiade gold medallist and Rio 2016 Olympian Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu in a world class first in the last 16. Tsendbaatar suffered a surprise loss in the quarter-finals to Buyandalai Bayarkhuigun who was bronze medallist at the Bangkok 2017 ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships. The 21-year-old Buyandalai had further tough battles in Erdenet City but he was able to get the gold medal against another young hope, Enkh-Amgalan Bayarsaikhan.

Byambatsogt Tuguldur is another boxer from their new generation who could be a top athlete in the next Olympic cycle and he proved his very best in the event when he defeated Otgonbat Batzorig in the final of the lightweight (63kg). Indian Open International Tournament silver medallist Battumur Misheelt moved up to the welterweight (69kg) one year ago and his efforts were paid off in the semi-finals when he met with Asian Games silver medallist and Olympian Chinzorig Baatarsukh. Misheelt defeated his well-experienced rival and continued his winning path also against Bayarkhuu Ganbaatar.

Byamba-Erdene Otgonbaatar claimed the gold medal at the Ahmet Comert Tournament in Turkey this January and following that he was near to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games but lost his Box-off in Amman. Mongolia’s middleweight (75kg) No.1 defeated 19-year-old Gantulga Batbayar and Dalai Ganzorig in the final of the Battulga Memorial Tournament keeping his dominancy in that category.

List of the winners in the Battulga Memorial Tournament
Women’s 51kg: Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg
Women’s 60kg: Namuun Monkhor
Women’s 75kg: Erdenetuya Enkhbaatar
Men’s 52kg: Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu
Men’s 57kg: Buyandalai Bayarkhuigun
Men’s 63kg: Byambatsogt Tuguldur
Men’s 69kg: Battumur Misheelt
Men’s 75kg: Byamba-Erdene Otgonbaatar

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