Ulaanbaatar
Ice Knucklebone Shooting Amateur Championship Kicks Off
Sports
Ulaanbaatar, February 14, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The first Ice Knucklebone Shooting Amateur Championship of Ulaanbaatar, organized by the Ulaanbaatar City Council, the Governor’s Office, and the Mongolian National Ice Knuckle-Bone Federation, is underway, bringing a thrilling revival of a centuries-old tradition.
The competition seeks to revive and promote the rich history of ice knucklebone shooting, a sport that dates back over 1,000 years, while also nurturing the next generation of archers. With the goal of raising public awareness and establishing the sport’s future development, more than 300 participants from six districts of Ulaanbaatar are competing for glory.
Each team consists of two members, with a total of 189 teams participating. The five highest-scoring teams will face off in the final match on February 22, 2025, at the National Park, where the ultimate winner will be crowned.
Mongolian Two-Time State Sharpshooter D. Uuganbayar shared, “As recounted in the Secret History of the Mongols, Chinggis Khaan and his anda Jamukha played knucklebone shooting on the frozen Onon River. More than 300 years ago, Zaya Gegeen from Arkhangai aimag formalized this game into a structured competition. The competition is held on a field typically 3-5 meters long. Teams shoot their arrows in line with the flow of the river, following traditional rules. Shooting 20 knucklebones is roughly equivalent to walking 5-6 kilometers, and it also has advantages for eyesight.”
Participant B. Batsaikhan from Khan-Uul district noted, “I have tried ice knucklebone shooting before as a hobbyist, but this is my first competition. The sport, played on frozen rivers in the extreme winter cold, really tests endurance and patience.”
The competition will continue on the Tuul, Dund, Selbe, and Uliastai rivers until February 22, 2025.
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