The 21st ‘Sonsogchiin Aldar (Cadet’s Glory)’ hand-to-hand combat tournament has commenced at the AIC-Steppe Arena complex. Named after the President of Mongolia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the tournament is jointly organized by the Office of the President and the University of Internal Affairs.

The President of Mongolia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, H.E. Mr. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, attended the opening ceremony of the tournament and extended his best wishes to the athletes for success.

He expressed his delight that the tournament’s prestige, scope, and number of participants have grown year after year, along with the athletes’ skills and achievements, and that more children and young people are taking up hand-to-hand combat sports.

The President emphasized that the tournament aligns with the “Healthy Mongolian Citizen” and “Patriotic Mongolia” movements, as well as the national resilience strategy. It represents one of many initiatives aimed at fostering healthy, physically fit, morally sound, and mentally resilient individuals who value statehood, cultural heritage, and national values.

Furthermore, he expressed his full support for the initiative to include hand-to-hand combat and self-defense training in physical education classes at all levels of schools, with the goal of providing children and youth with balanced physical, mental, and moral development.

The tournament will be organized in two categories: “Combat” and “Self-Defense.” Participants include officers from military and law enforcement agencies, students and cadets from universities and higher education institutions, as well as athletes from the Self-Defense Arts Association, clubs, federations, and individual competitors, competing in both men’s and women’s categories.

Winners of the top three places in each weight class will be recognized, and athletes who claim victory in the “Combat” and “Self-Defense” categories, as well as those demonstrating exceptional technique and outstanding creativity and bravery, will be awarded the prestigious Red Beret.

Additional honors will include “Outstanding Referee,” “Best Coach,” “Most Creative Fighter” in the Combat category, and “Best Skilled Athlete” in the Self-Defense category.

The winning team will be awarded the President’s Challenge Cup, which becomes a permanent trophy if claimed for three consecutive years.

The tournament will run for two days, culminating in the announcement of the champions.

The “Cadet’s Glory” tournament was initiated by Police Colonel Khayangarvaa Sodnomdorj, Honorary Professor of the University of Internal Affairs and Mongolian State University of Education, Doctor of Education and People’s Teacher.

Since 1996, this tournament has been organized nationally and internationally among officers of military and law enforcement agencies, cadets of military and police academies, and members of martial arts clubs and associations.

In 1998, female athletes, children, and youth were included by age and weight categories. Over the years, athletes from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Iran, Japan, the Czech Republic, and Korea have participated, notably in 2003, 2008, and 2013.

The tournament has enabled world-class athletes to emerge, including J.Narantungalag, a two-time ONE Championship champion; U.Gantumur, world champion at both Kyoku

shinkai Karate and Taekwondo; and Ch.Tseveenpurev, a two-time professional boxing world champion.

Currently, Mongolia boasts over 50 professional associations and clubs across approximately 20 martial arts disciplines, with around 1,000 training sections and extracurricular centers operating nation wide.