By Nick Butler

A Ceremony has taken place to award Mongolian Olympic Solidarity Scholarships for Rio 2016 ©Mongolia NOCA ceremony has taken place in Ulaanbaatar to award 17 Mongolian athletes with Olympic Solidarity Scholarships for Rio 2016.


The event, at Olympic House in the Mongolian capital, was attended by Mongolian National Olympic Committee President D Zagdsuren, with the official congratulating the recipients before presenting the grants.

Athletes from seven sports received the scholarships, although the full list is yet to be revealed.

It is hoped the scholarships will allow the Asian nation to improve upon the two silver and three bronze medals won at London 2012, with all five coming in combat sports.

Under 100 kilogram judoka Naidangiin Tüvshinbayar and flyweight boxer Nyambayaryn Tögstsogt each won silver medals, while judoker Sainjargalyn Nyam-Ochir, women's freestyle wrestler Soronzonboldyn Battsetseg and boxer Uranchimegiin Mönkh-Erdene all took bronze.

Boxer Tugstsogt Nyambayar won one of five Mongolian medals at London 2012 ©AFP/Getty ImagesBoxer Tugstsogt Nyambayar won one of five Mongolian medals at London 2012
©AFP/Getty Images



The team will be keen to return to the top step of the podium in Rio de Janeiro for the first time since Beijing 2008, where two gold medals were won in judo and boxing.

But strong performances have been registered at various other multi-sport competitions in 2014, with Mongolia winning five golds in a 21 medal haul at the Asian Games in Incheon, and a more impressive six golds and 10 total medals at last month's Asian Beach Games in Phuket.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2014: Landlocked Mongolia competing in eight sports at Asian Beach Games
October 2014: Fiftieth anniversary of first Olympic appearance celebrated in Mongolia
October 2014: Mongolia vow to "escalate" complaint into judging of Asian Games boxing