Ms Urantsetseg is the first female athlete from Mongolia to receive Gold, Silver, Bronze medals from World Championships and set the world record with most medals from IFJ World Tour.
Here’s the interview with Ms.Urantsetseg, world’s 7th ranking athlete and qualified for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as well as joined to the roster of Team Visa which consisted of Olympic and Paralympic legendary athletes.
… it was interesting that she replies with a single, short sentence.
You’re the first-ever athlete to join the Team Visa roster from Mongolia. What is the benefit of being in such a programme in the wake of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020?
For athletes, support is essential. It’s my honour to be included in the Team Visa roster. A very few would get selected, and it’s a very prestigious programme among the athletes. I’m extremely delighted to be included in it for the first time from Mongolia. I hope it would open a new door for my fellow Mongolian athletes as well.
To be part of this roster athletes had to work tirelessly for many years constantly. Also, me being qualified for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, furthermore Trade and Development Banks reputation and international relations with Visa played a crucial role in getting me the Visa’s support. Trade and Development Bank voluntarily proposed me to be a Team Visa athlete and connected me to Visa. After these we signed the tri-party agreement.
Please tell us how you started with Judo, and what was the most significant influence for you?
My father most influenced me. I’m from a rural area. When I was a child, my father would let me wrestle with boys. I liked it and was good at it.
We have a family dream. I have two elder brothers and one younger sister. Our big brother’s dream was to become a successful businessman, second brother’s was to become a singer and mine was to become an famous athlete and our youngest sister’s dream was to become a journalist, so she used to say to us that once she become a journalist she will take the interview from me and from my brothers.
Now we laugh about our childhood dreams, and in fact our dreams came true and elder 3 of us are successful in our respective areas and now only thing which left for us is me becoming an Olympic Games medalist and my younger sister taking interview from me (laughs).
I would say that I was introduced to judo when I was 16 because at that age I wanted to become a boxer, so I went to the only boxing gym in my hometown but on that day the gym was not working and the hall was under maintenance, but fortunatelly there was a judo hall just next to the boxing one. I went to the sports hall for several days to check if the boxing gym is opened and at the same time I was peeking into the Judokas and somehow I changed my mind and Judo seemed more interesting, so my story of Judo started from then and there. It only took one years of training to get my first medal which gave me a so much inspiration.
I think I was born to be an athlete but I have missed so many opportunities to get a medal from Olympic Games.
Since 16, you’ve trained 14 years as a Judoka. Were there any setbacks and moments you think you would give up?
It was 2010, I asked a financial support from my hometown old friend to attend Sambo World Championships. At that time, I was naïve and I was so confident so I said to my friend that: Please support me to become a world champion if not I will repay you back, and then I won the championship (laugh).
This accomplishment followed by setbacks with full-year of poor performances without any medal from any tournaments. It was frustrating, so I said to myself that “I am quitting” and told my teachers that “I want to retire and I don’t want my nation to waste their energy and money on a wrong athlete with poor performance”, after telling this I took a brief break from my training. Then funny thing is that I realized I couldn’t live without it /training/ and came back only after 10 days.
Since then, I never thought about quitting. For my career, which started when I was 16, I only spent ten days without training. Those days felt like a “hell” to me.
Please share us some special memories of recent Olympic Games? How special will be the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2020 since it’s going to be held in Tokyo?
I first participated in the London Olympic Games 2012. I was young then and I finished in 7th and I believe I did well on my first Olympic Games. Since, 2013 when I won the World Championship, I became more confident and eager to participate in the Olympics Games Rio 2016. Public also had a high expectation for me at that time. Right before the Olympic Games, IFJ introduced a new regulation, prohibiting to reach judoka pants. Unfortunately, I accidentally reached a judoka pant and ended my Olympic Games.
I won 3 medals from the World Championships. The first medal I won is by beating a Japanese judoka and also won a Bronze medal of the WC held in Japan. Most of my achievements somehow connected to Japan. Furthermore, Judo is a Japanese national sport.
Therefore, I’m thrilled that the Olympic Games is going to be held in Tokyo. I want to say I confident that I will get a medal from the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Hearing it makes me excited. But isn’t giving a promise and keeping it difficult?
Giving a promise and keeping it is difficult. But sometimes people feel confident on their capacity and capability. So I guess I am feeling it now, so its ok to express it.
If you reach your goal in the Olympic Games, how much of your life goal would be completed? Also, what did you feel when you knew you set the world record?
Exactly half, 50 percent.
When I first heard of it, I was in shock. I felt so lucky to be become one of the world record holders and its motivated me a lot. Obviously, “luck” is a product of hard work. Therefore, it’s it’s an honor for me to get this world title after my life-time hard work and training.
When you’re in tournaments, who do you wish to be there with you?
Usually, our teachers are with us. I think being with them is enough. My family stays praying.
What do you think before a match?
I think about my country and parents. There’s nothing else. I stopped panicking and being afraid long ago.
For athletes, two types of practice crucial. Physical and mental training. For you to achieve success, what kind of mental practices are essential? How do you prepare yourself?
I think I have good mental strength. Interestingly, my psychology team also confirms it backed with science.
Before getting a psychologist, I thought it’s possible for an individual to handle its mental state. Also, It wasn’t developed well in Mongolia then. After getting a team, they not only train me but do research on my opponent, and together we predict what their weakness, strategy are.
Individual contribution is important, but it's teamwork that makes a sucess and dream work.
In sports, youth and experience always go against each other. If you could compare the Urantsetseg who is participating in her first tournament and the Urantsetseg now?
Totally different. I wasn’t this soft person. When I was young, when I started, I was very arrogant. When I beat someone, I liked to boast. As I get more experienced, I became humbler. This unwritten rule also happened to me. But a little bit of arrogance and confidence is also needed. Could be a self-encouraging method as well.
What is encouraging you now besides Judo?
I like extreme sports. I try to make time for to it too.
For Mongolians, the most exciting sport in the Olympic Games is Judo. If you could say what makes this sport so unique?
From other sports, as Judo is Japanese traditional sport, it has that Japanese flavour and culture. It teaches the Asian culture and respect to the person who participates it. My attitude and today’s Urantsetseg is undoubtedly the product of Judo.
When time comes, every athlete retires. If you could share us what is your plan and goal after retiring?
I will spend more time with my family. I will do my police and coaching works. And probably I will start a business as well.
What is unique of watching Olympic Games in Tokyo and in its environment?
I think everyone wants to watch the Olympic Games in person.
I think Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will surely give some geographical advantages to Mongolians. There is almost no time difference, and it’s an Asian country. Also, there are many things to see and places to visit besides the Olympic Games so people should travel around a few days before watching the Olympic Games.
Creating beautiful memory for yourself, cheering and supporting us, waving Mongolian flag and chanting would feel amazing not only for yourself but for us athletes too.
Interview by Suvd.B
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