ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA - At the annual Mongolian Student Sports Federation (MSSF) Executive Committee (EC) meetings important topics for the promotion and advancement of University Sport were on the ten-point meeting agenda.

At the top of the list was a reflection on the 2017 annual report and the success of participation and performance of Mongolian athletes at the Almaty Winter and Taipei Summer Universiades, the organisation of the 13^th Mongolian National Universiade Games in 2017 and the MSSF’s 2018 working plan, including this year’s National University Championship calendar. Held at the “O’Castle” National Amusement Park in Ulaanbaatar city, FISU Treasurer and MSSF President Bayasgalan D., MSSF Vice-President Batsaikhan Kh., MSSF Secretary General, FISU CIC Vice-chair Jargalsaikhan D., and eight other EC members were present at the meeting.

Following tradition, the “Best student-athletes of 2017” awards proceeded the meeting. This year’s award winners included the judoka Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade silver medalist Mr. B.Erkhembayar, 3x3 Basketball player Mr. B.Batzolboo, who led his university team to the win the 3x3 FISU World University league – 2017 Finals in Xiamen, China along with winning the AUSF 3x3 basketball Asian University Championship in Malaysia.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Physical Culture and Sports Authority, Student Union of Mongolia and all 13 national sports federations of Mongolia, the MSSF successfully hosted the 13^th edition of National Universiade Games in 2017. During three months, the Games were held in 11 sports disciplines, with three levels of organisation (university level, sub regional level and final stages).

The sub-regional Universiade levels included a European Sub Regional Universiade Games held in Moscow city, Russia and the Asian Sub Regional Universiade Games, held in Tianjin, China. The sub regional level games brought together 600 Mongolian students from 50 universities and institutes in several sports disciplines. In the final stage of the National Universiade Games, 2,354 of the best student-athletes from 62 Mongolian universities and colleges competed with 219 coaches and teachers, and 274 referees, participating.

Based on the results of the National Universiade, the six best universities of the country were awarded with prizes. Mongolian National Institute of Physical education was honored as “Champion of the Universiade” with Mongolian University of Science and Technology finishing second and and Mongolian State University of Education placing third.

The winners of this National Universiade Games took part in Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade, leading a Mongolian delegation of 51 student-athletes (29 male and 22 female), and 25 officials. Mongolian athletes in Taipei competed in athletics, swimming, judo, table tennis, weightlifting, billiard, fencing, golf and taekwondo, winning two silver and one bronze in the judo and billiards disciplines.

At the Almaty 2017 Winter Universiade, the Mongolian delegation was 14 strong (10 athletes, 2 coaches and 2 staff) with athletes competing in Speed Skating and Cross-Country Skiing. A highlight from Almaty was Mongolian ski athletes earning their right to compete in Pyeongchang this month in the Olympic Winter Games.

After the Summer Universiade in Taipei, A Regional University Games was organised by the MSSF in the Khovd province in six sports disciplines and participated by approximately 300 student-athletes from five provincial teams, as well as delegations from China and Russia.

At the Asian University Sports Federation 2017 championships, MSSF had 40 athletes and representatives represent in three sports: 3x3 Basketball, Futsal and Cheerleading. The Mongolian women’s Cheerleading won the bronze, with the Men’s Futsal finishing sixth in the nine-team field.

The Mongolian men’s university team won a gold medal at the 3^rd Asian University 3x3 basketball championship in Malaysia, therefore earning the right to represent Asia at the 3x3 FISU World University League – 2017 Finals. The Mongolian team rose to the challenge of the higher level of competition, winning the 3x3 League title in Xiamen, China. This marked a historic success for a Mongolian university team in international sports.

On the educational front, the Mongolian NUSF did a variety of work, such publishing the book "University Sport and Universiade" in Russian language as part of a collaboration with the Kazakh Academy of Sport and Tourism. Additionally, 10 delegates from national universities took part in FISU Conference in Kazakhstan and Taipei, FISU Volunteers forum in Kazan, Russia, and in AUSF and FISU Oceania seminars in Australia and China. On the occasion of the International Day of University Sport, MSSF hosted the National University Sports and Volunteers Forum, where more than 10 universities of Ulaanbaatar city participated in sports events, seminars and discussions.

Towards the end of the meeting, Executive Committee members had an in-depth discussion about the 2018 MSSF calendar. According to the regulation and rules, the national university championships will start in March.

13 sporting events including athletics, basketball, cheerleading, chess, futsal, handball, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, tug of war, volleyball, woodball and wrestling were approved to be held. The medal design of national university championships was accepted together with the regional championships’ (total 1,000 medals). Mongolia also planned to participate 8 sports of the WUC 2018 and 2 continental championships. A series of event will be held in 2018 to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of FISU, the 60^th anniversary of the first Universiades, as well as the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of MSSF.

MONGOLIAN STUDENT SPORTS FEDERATION