B.Erkhbilguun: I didn’t want to give up even though my hands were blistered

B.Erkhbilguun of School No. 84 in Ulaanbaatar is one of the up-and-coming teen athletes who is succeeding impressively in tennis...

B.Erkhbilguun of School No. 84 in Ulaanbaatar is one of the up-and-coming teen athletes who is succeeding impressively in tennis. She won many medals from national tournaments, including bronze medals from Max Cup in 2017 and 2019, and two silvers from the National Tennis Championship. She finished fifth in ITF Asian 14&U Development Championships. The following interview will explore her passion for the sport and her vision as an athlete.

I heard you started your career by becoming student under coach B.Duurenbayar. What was your first ever tournament?

I’ve been training in tennis since I was five when I became a student under ITF first level coach B.Duurenbayar. I felt wonders of the sport since the first time grabbed a tennis racket and ball. After training for three months, I took part in my first tournament. I was motivated after winning a bronze medal from the Future Stars tournament jointly held by Mongolian and Russian federations as I competed against tennis players from Ulan-Ude. I hold dear that medal since it was my first medal from my first tournament. After the tournament, I joined Seoul Club to train under coach S.Sukhjargal of the Mongolian national team. In 2018, I won gold medal from Tsagaan Sar Cup and my accomplishment is still improving.

...I feel grateful that I’m paying my dues to the merit of my coach and my parents, even just a little bit...

Girls tend to practice this sport more than boys. Who supported you the most when you started?

My father is a PE teacher. He was the first person to give me motivation to become a professional athlete in the future. Since the day I started playing tennis, my family committed to support me with everything they have. People say, “The student shows the success of the teacher.” I’m proud of the effort and labor of my coaches and teachers who do their best to make us succeed. I’m moving forward progressively thanks to the support of my family.

Who is your strongest opponent, including local and foreign athletes?

From Mongolia, Ch.Maralgoo is my strongest opponent. We compete at the same level with athletes from South Korea and Thailand. When I took part in the ITF Asian Championship in January 2019, a girl named Sophia from Vietnam was the strongest opponent of mine. The medals I won from big tournaments is proof of my effort and they strongly motivate me.

How much do you think you changed after becoming an athlete?

I’m trying my best to succeed in the sport I love. I train every day and feel satisfaction from it. After becoming an athlete, I learned to be on time and train productively. I learned to be patient on issues I face, to dedicate my soul into what I’m doing, and to commit my hard work for the training.

Did your friends get interested in the sport after watching you succeed?

My friend B.Udval was interested in tennis and was starting to practice. However, the pandemic hit and she is currently postponing her training. My youngest brother B.Erkhemtugs is likely to become interested in taking up a sport in the near future, after watching me play though he is only five years old.

Who do you miss the most when you are

abroad for international tournaments?

I often miss my family when I’m in foreign countries to compete in international tournaments. I miss B.Erkhemtugs the most. At those times, I imagine that my family is having dinner and spending time together.

What do your parents tell you before big tournaments?

My parents contact me on the day I arrive to a foreign country. The words, “My daughter is a brave one. Be brave and strong. You can do it,” from my parents encourages me the most at the times I feel nervous about competing. They constantly remind me to be healthy and to stay safe.

Who is the most interesting athlete from your age group?

Dorsa from Iran, who is 16 years old. She makes the flashiest plays on the field that attracts attention of the audience most. Her game sense, talent and skills are the reason many athletes look up to her.

How much do you learn from your opponents and improve yourself?

Every athlete who came to compete is my opponent. I observe their technique and methods to compare them to mine in order to come up with a tactic to win against them.

Which tournament was the most memorable one?

The Asian Teen Championship held in Manila, Philippines from January 18 to 26, 2020 was the most memorable one as the final game continued for over three hours. It became hard for me to play as my hands were blistered and my body was aching. Me and my opponent both played with everything we had to win a medal. The day before that, another final game continued for two-and-a-half hours. I didn’t want to give up even though my hands were blistered and the temperature outside was above 30 degrees Celsius. I gave everything in that match even though my hand had open sores. The silver medal I won from the match is the biggest accomplishment I ever made. I think I pulled off a great test of patience and endurance that was too much for me to finish the match since all I was thinking about was to not disappointing my home country, my family, friends and coaches. The medals I hanged on the wall of my home brings me back to that moment to remind me of my fight to win the game.

What do you think about most when you stand on the medal podium?

I feel grateful that I’m paying my dues to the merit of my coach and my parents, even just a little bit.

What was the last motivational word you heard and who was it from?

President of the Mongolian Tennis Federation J.Batjargal motivates me with nice words, while S.Sukhjargal instructs me about training to succeed every day.

It’s obvious that you are unable to meet your friends during the lockdown. How do you spend your time?

I’m spending my time improving my English and learning Japanese independently while studying Japanese development history and sports. I contact my friends through online to talk about interesting topics. I recently talked with them about the book I recently read, the dish I learned to cook, and bakery recipes.