This year’s National Wrestling Tournament, a centerpiece of the Naadam Festival, captivated audiences with its intense matchups and display of skill and tradition. Over 510 wrestlers competed in the grand state tournament, each demonstrating formidable strength and masterful technique.
Wrestling holds a revered place in Mongolian culture, symbolizing not only physical power but also discipline, endurance, and ancestral pride. Whenever a new wrestler rises to prominence, the public takes great joy in witnessing fresh talent step into the spotlight. Such moments are celebrated with genuine excitement, as they signal the continuation of a proud legacy. However, when the same wrestler repeatedly dominates, even if his victories are well-deserved, murmurs of skepticism and envy can sometimes surface among the crowd. This duality reflects the emotional depth with which Mongolians engage with their national sport—cheering for new champions while quietly questioning prolonged dominance. Ultimately, wrestling is more than just a contest of strength; it is a mirror of society’s values, where respect for tradition coexists with the desire for change and renewal.
Among the standout performances, four wrestlers emerged to form the final four: Darkhan Avarga or State Grand Champion N.Batsuuri of Khovd soum in Uvs Province; Ulsiin Avarga or State Champion P.Burentugs, also from Uvs Province’s Davst soum; Ulsiin Nachin (title by reaching the fifth round of the National Naadam wrestling tournament) E.Batmagnai from Jinst soum in Bayankhongor Province; and Aimgiin Arslan (title by winning the provincial Naadam wrestling tournament) N.Usukhbayar of Ongon soum in Sukhbaatar Province. Their matchups drew widespread attention, with wrestling enthusiasts referring to the semifinals as a “clash between generations”, highlighting the mix of seasoned wrestlers and ambitious newcomers.
The tournament culminated in a gripping final between E.Batmagnai and N.Usukhbayar. After an intense bout, E.Batmagnai claimed victory with his ninth win, defeating his opponent and earning the esteemed title of Ulsiin Arslan (title by winning the National Naadam wrestling tournament). This moment was particularly historic for Bayankhongor Province, as it marked the first time in 76 years that a wrestler from the province had been awarded the Ulsiin Arslan title—an achievement that did not go unnoticed by commentators and fans alike.
In parallel with the tournament, efforts to ensure fairness and transparency continued through doping control measures. In accordance with the Law on the National Naadam Festival, samples were collected from 84 wrestlers who reached the finals of Naadam competitions held across 18 provinces and three districts of the capital city. The Mongolian Wrestling Federation (MWF) reported that 14 of those samples were selected for advanced testing by an accredited laboratory at the Institute of Doping Analysis and Sports Biochemistry in Dresden, Germany.
As of 10:00 p.m. on July 18, results for six of the 14 samples had been received, with four returning positive for banned substances. The results for the remaining eight samples are still pending. Once finalized, they will be submitted to the respective provincial and district Naadam organizing committees, which will take appropriate action according to the regulations in place.
It was also emphasized that the results of doping tests from the National Naadam’s wrestling and archery events will be officially announced by the Naadam Organizing Committee, in accordance with established procedures.
