In the festival, 128 wrestlers with national, aimag and soum titles, 32 junior wrestlers and 32 wrestlers representing Energy Resources employees competed; in the main wrestling, aimag-level Lion M. Adyaakhuu came first and the aimag’s Fierce Lion D. Mijiddorj was runner-up. In the junior wrestling, U. Batkhishig of School No. 7, from Khankhongor soum, came first and B. Shinebayar of the Muruudul School in Tsogttsetsii soum was runner-up, while in the employees’ wrestling A. Ikhtenger of Public Service came first and T. Bayarjargal of USS was runner-up, to the delight of the crowd.

In the national archery, 101 highly ranked archers with national and aimag titles and 32 junior archers took part. In the men’s adult category, the aimag’s Marksman and Master of Sport E. Batsukh came first; in the women’s adult category, Candidate Master of Sport Kh. Davaatsetseg; among the junior male archers, T. Khash-Erdene; and among the junior female archers, A. Ariun-Erdene, to the delight of the crowd.

In the horse racing, 148 fast horses in six age categories from 7 aimags competed. In the stallion race, the grey of trainer G. Gonchig from Tsogttsetsii soum, Umnugobi aimag, and the dun of trainer N. Amgalan from Tsogttsetsii soum, Umnugobi aimag, came first; among the five-year-olds, the black of trainer T. Ganjargal from Nomgon soum, Umnugobi aimag; among the four-year-olds, the black of trainer S. Munkhtur from Tsogttsetsii soum, Umnugobi aimag; among the three-year-olds, the blazed pink-grey of B. Togtokh from Tsogttsetsii soum, Umnugobi aimag; and among the two-year-olds, the blazed bay colt of trainer B. Uuganbayar from Khanbogd soum, Umnugobi aimag — bringing joy to their trainers, the crowd and the young riders.

In the anklebone shooting, 130 shooters from 14 teams with national, aimag and soum titles competed. In the team event, the team led by Mongolia’s Grand Master Marksman B. Tuvshinbayar of Khankhongor soum, Umnugobi aimag, took first place, while in the individual finger-shot event Mongolia’s Sharp Marksman E. Samdanjigmed came first and in the individual flick-shot event Honoured Archer of Mongolia Ts. Beejin came first, to the delight of the crowd.

The festival also coincided with several happy events that were warmly welcomed by everyone. As part of its “Good neighbour” programme of support for the local community, Energy Resources donated a total of 9 specialised refuse collection vehicles to Dalanzadgad, Tsogttsetsii and Khankhongor soums in Umnugobi aimag. It also presented, in front of the festival crowd, a donation of $10,000 towards treatment abroad for Ts. Battsetseg, a girl from Tsogttsetsii soum who is at risk of losing her sight following a road accident.

And so the Ukhaa Khudag 2019 festival, held in the traditional way for the 10th year, brought together wrestlers, distinguished trainers and expert archers from across the region and made it a fine celebration for everyone who gathered.