“The myth that Mongolians cannot swim and are afraid of water has been debunked by the younger generation, as Mongolia has no ocean,” notes MiddleAsianNews.
At the international youth swimming competition, the Asian Open Schools Invitational Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand, Mongolian athletes won 71 medals.
11-year-old Margad Batzorih from the "We Aquatics" club not only improved his personal bests but also won one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in individual events. His club teammates from "Khangarid" in Erdenet brought home one gold, four silver, and five bronze medals, while the "Aquanex" club secured one gold and three bronze medals. Swimmers from the Sports Training Center under the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Selenge aimag won two gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
The "Gobi Swimmers" club from the Govi-Sumber aimag performed brilliantly at the AOSI (LCM) Championship or "Asian School Champion," winning 7 gold, 5 silver, and 14 bronze medals. The "Bella Vista" club delighted with their two gold, four silver, and one bronze medal, while the "Kings of Ocean" club added seven silver and bronze medals to their collection.
In the competition, which gathered over 1,100 participants from 22 countries, Mongolia was represented by 69 swimmers from eight clubs. The main goal of the championship is to provide schoolchildren from Asian countries with the opportunity to participate in international competitions, improve their sports skills, develop team spirit, and promote cultural exchange. The competition took place in various styles: breaststroke, freestyle, butterfly, freestyle relays, backstroke, and mixed team events.
