M.Enkhjargal is one of the two Mongolian boxers who competed in the adult women’s amateur boxing World Championship held in New Delhi, India. She has a proud history of bringing the first medal from the Women’s World Championship to her country. Among the women with the surname “Aldar”, she shined like a star in the fighting ring and added a new page to the Mongolian boxing sport with her success in ranking among the best sportswomen in the world. It is said that her training in the sports committee had a significant influence on her entry into military life. I invited her as a guest to talk to her and she works in the 65th unit of the Mongolian Armed Forces and carries together her career as an athlete.
You can feel the atmosphere of the competition from the first day you set foot in that country. What did you think of when you were in New Delhi for the first time?
Athletes from many countries came to participate in this World Championship because of the high prize fund. It was noticed from the first day’s matches that they are trying to compete for the medal with such a fiery fight on the stage. As the tournament was held in a suburb of New Delhi, the environment was not ideal. We didn’t like spicy food very much, so we mostly ate fruits and vegetables brought from Mongolia.
It was seen from the fight on the first day that it will not be easy for your opponents. How much did you learn about your opponents?
41 athletes played in my weight class. We had a tough fight with them until the end of the match and it was not easy to win them. As soon as we got there, the phone was confiscated, so we didn’t have a chance to learn about the opponents. Therefore, I entered the ring not knowing who I would fight the next day. I played my first match against Vietnamese athlete Ti Kim An and won by 5:0. In the second half of the match, I advanced and fought in the corner, but the judges gave her more points. In the third period, when she was tired, I won my opponent by attacking without stopping and optimizing her hard shots. In the second match, I had Widad Bertal of Morocco. Whoever won would’ve advanced to the final 16. She is stronger than me. It was important to show everyone on the stage their skills and continue their efforts. To win her, I had to work head-first. At that time, the correct advice and tactics developed by my teachers had a great impact. In the middle of the game, the teachers encouraged me, “My daughter will not get tired, and be patient. Fight with all your strength might win.”
Your match against Brazil’s Tatiana Chagas attracted the attention of sports fans and raised speculations about who will fight for the medal.
Only the best competes in the World Championship. Brazilian Tatiana Chagas is one of my strong opponents. In the first round of the match, I received a poor evaluation from the judges, but in the next round, I fought well and won the match by 4:1 to qualify for the medal grabbing match. I worked hard because that match would decide the fate of my success. Therefore, I developed a plan to tire out all my competitors. I fought with the tactics of showing patience and tirelessness to the referees, aiming to show my superiority by increasing the number of shots in the third period. Coaches from other countries used to stand around the ring to study Mongolian athletes’ fights and go to the training hall after the competition. We had a busy day fighting with a new athlete every day.
The battle for the bronze medal seemed to challenge you in many ways to be among the best in the world. It was seen that the Italians continuously supported and encouraged Savchuk Olena?
It was very difficult for the athletes to test whether they would qualify or not. I am very nervous about how I will fight the day before the medal grabbing match. Therefore, I carefully listened to everything that the psychologist advised. As soon as I got up in the morning, I prepared my mind and tried to be as calm as possible. I fought tactically in every period of the game and exhaust your opponent. Even though I had a headache after colliding with her, I told myself that this was the most important match for a medal. I was very happy to win by 5-0 with an attack that did not give her a chance to win and qualified for the bronze medal. At the time, I was so excited that I didn’t even notice that my head was cracked and bleeding. Before the match for the medal, L.Altantsetseg said, “Both of us can do it.” After the medals were awarded, we happily hugged and laughed, saying, “We did it.” We met before a few times in the same weight category and qualified for medals. We stayed in the same room during training and talked about our wishes and dreams. I am proud of my sister from another mother, who has always helped me in life and sports, with her brave and persistent character, and her perseverance and patience that never gives up.
After that match, you probably believe that you can win against anyone and change the color of the medal?
I always reminded myself that two more fights are waiting for me. I went to India intending to return home with a medal. I fulfilled my dreams there. The success of an athlete is not hers or his alone. I have the support of many people who believe in me and support me. The thought of repaying their favors with success encouraged me and pushed me forward. Every time I went to a sports ring, I could see the efforts of my country, my teachers, and my family, who became my reliable support.
Mongolians watched the match for the silver medal with so much excitement and prayed that you would become champions. There is no doubt that Colombia’s Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda fought to the end and patiently tied the world audience in front of the screen.
I couldn’t sleep before the silver medal match. My mind was unstable, so I talked to my psychologist and rested. On that day, I said to myself, “What did I start all this for? If I don’t succeed now, when will I succeed? I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Therefore, we will fight bravely and win.” I didn't want to give up to an opponent in that fight although she was older and more experienced than me. I had the responsibility to fight, not her fame, but her success, so I exhausted myself and fought until the end. I thought I had won, but unfortunately, I was defeated by the judges’ assessment. Even though I lost to her, I learned a lot. I respect and follow the lead of T.Bolortuul, from the athletes of Mongolia. She was one of the boxers who could be a role model just like Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda. Her desire to win was immediately felt in her eyes. I also liked playing with her pretending not to be tired. After that competition, I promised myself that I will try hard next time with everything I can and I will “bring a gift” to my opponents in the next World Championship.
Your family must have fought with you on the stage while watching the match.
When I came home, I understood everything from the looks of those who greeted me with tears of joy and kissed me. During the tournament, I focused on the game and did not have time to contact my parents. Later I saw my brothers and sisters try to contact me and send me encouraging messages after every game. I am overwhelmed by the congratulatory phone calls and words of encouragement. I read the comments of the people who watched each of my matches one by one and absorbed what was useful. It is worth mentioning that the doctor and psychologist who went with us were a great support. They encouraged me as much as my teachers and advised me to avoid injury every time I played, which contributed a lot to my success. Thanks to B.Zolzaya’s close observation of the psychology of her athletes, and her hourly advice, we successfully came out behind difficult battles. She made the athletes understand the importance of psychological advice during the competition.
The Indian stage was friendly to Mongolian athletes this time as well. From this moment on, you rank among the best athletes in the world. Being announced as the bronze medalist of the World Championship in the next competition and going to the ring.
The bronze medal I won at the World Championship will always bring me good memories, so I will give it as a gift. Ever since I arrived, I have been invited as a guest here and there, so I am currently doing everything I can. Yesterday, I thought, “I have become a world athlete” but I didn’t believe in myself. Everything difficult before seemed like a dream, and I laughed. Honored athlete M.Nandintsetseg still does not forget the happy event when she brought home the first bronze medal from the Indian stage in 2018. It’s good to be an athlete. I think that I have always celebrated her proud success, encouraged girls who play this sport, and made them understand that if you work hard, you can achieve your goals.
Do you agree that everything that you have done after thinking about your goals gives you mental strength and intelligence?
Yes. I was preparing for this through every moment of training. If it seemed difficult, the teacher sharpened me and made me become who learned from her patience. My blue days gave me wisdom and my hard work helped me succeed.
You are one of the athletes working in the armed forces. Did your colleagues influence you to be more patient, responsible, and disciplined than before?
I work in the 65th military unit. In addition to work, my colleagues help me to prepare for the match. After 24 hours on duty, when I resume training as soon as I ended my work, they said, “You’re going to be tired. Have a good rest. You are patient, energetic, and a warrior woman.” Their caring words encourage me when I was tired. The army trains anyone to be patient. When I think of my country, I want to contribute what I can. This thought turns me into a strong one.
What did you think when you looked back from the world stage to that day when you trained for the first time?
I am proud of myself for saying no to many things and putting trainings first. From this World Championship, many people have realized that the road to success is not easy for athletes who train tirelessly thousands and hundreds of times and show their skills on the stage in just a few minutes. At this event, I would like to express my appreciation to the Mongolian Boxing Association, the association’s president Kh.Nyambaatar, “Aldar” sports committee, the staff of the Military Unit No.65, Honored Coach A.Gantulga, who led to success and won the medal, Coach J.Otgonbayar, the Mongolian National Olympics Committee, the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports Regulator, colleagues, family, brothers, and friends.
