O.Khangai takes victory at Korea Open Ssireum Festival

O.Khangai became the first Mongolian wrestler become grand champion of world Ssireum at this year’s Korea Open Ssireum Festival, which took place from November 19 to 26 in South Korea.

O.Khangai, who holds an ulsyn khartsaga title in Mongolian traditional wrestling, participated in the festival with fellow members of the Khangai Union of Mongolian Ssireum Wrestlers – ulsyn zaan D.Baasandorj, ulsyn usukh ider nachin E.Enkhbat, ulsyn nachin E.Dash and D.Tamir.

He beat wrestlers from all around the globe, including Korean wrestlers who’ve been training in the national sport for many years.

The Ssireum competition attracted more than 460 wrestlers, among whom 60 were professional ssireum wrestlers from China, Spain, New Zealand and Russia.

On Monday, the traditional Korean wrestling, ssirum/ssireum, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, on the basis of a joint application by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea.