Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia Wins One Gold, Two Bronzes at Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix
Sports
Ulaanbaatar, February 1, 2026 /MONTSAME/. Mongolian wrestlers competing at the prestigious Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, won one gold and two bronze medals on the opening day of the tournament.
In the men’s 57 kg category, national team member and International Master Munkh-Erdene Batkhuyag claimed the gold medal, bringing Mongolia’s national anthem to the arena. This marks the first gold medal for Mongolia’s men’s freestyle wrestling at the Ivan Yarygin tournament in 27 years. Previously, Mongolian wrestlers won gold at this event in 1991, when International Master Sergelenbaatar L. claimed the title, and in 1999, when Honored Athlete Purevbaatar O. won gold.
On his path to the title, Munkh-Erdene
defeated Han Jong Song of North Korea—the 2025 World Champion, Asian Champion,
and silver medalist at the Hangzhou Asian Games—by a decisive 11–1 technical
superiority in the semifinals. In the final, he overcame Musa Mekhtikhanov of
Dagestan, Russia, with an 8–6 victory to secure the gold medal. Just days
earlier, Munkh-Erdene had also won the Mongolian National Championship.
In the women’s events, Bolortuya H. earned a bronze medal in the 59 kg category, while Enkhjin T., a World Championship bronze medalist, claimed bronze in the 65 kg division.
