‘I need to be an inspiration for the next generations’

Khuslen Myagmar’s journey to the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games has been littered with challenges, still, the 18-year-old refuses to give up. Instead, each hurdle he encounters is a reminder of what this opportunity can do for the sport of fencing back home.

The biggest challenges for his Mongolian team are finances. Initially the delegation was to be sponsored by an airline and their flights taken care of, however just a few weeks before departure, the company withdrew funding and many of the athletes made the tough decision to stay home. The entire women’s contingent and all of the men’s coaches were left behind. Only Myagmar and two of his male teammates are at the Games.

The épée fencer sat in the warm-up zone the day before the men’s team event and shared the trio’s moto: “It’s for our teammates, all of the teammates in mind. We just talked about it yesterday, and we said we just need to win. It’s not enough, but it’s enough.”

The student-athlete from Mon-Altius Physical Education Institute spoke on his father’s experience with sport in Mongolia and his hopes that through international success he can forge a different future for himself and other young athletes.

“(My father) retired from judo, and he retired from wrestling because my family needs the money, and so he decided to leave his sports. I don’t want to repeat that. I am not going to give up.”

It wasn’t always supposed to be fencing. Myagmar only picked up the sport three years ago after injuries ended his time on the basketball court. But even as a new citizen of the fencing world, he carries great pride in his sport and has a deep desire to advance its prominence across Mongolia.

“If I don’t go, If I don’t do these things, my kids won’t be able to grow in the sport either. The next generation, I’m preparing for that guy’s way,” Myagmar said on the importance of taking the next step for Mongolian fencing.

“Somebody needs to take on all of them, all of the struggles.”

Myagmar knows his goals to advance fencing won’t be achieved easily. As the teenager put it, “Fencing is nothing for Mongolia, but you don’t give up still.”

When farming meets fencing

Until more sponsors and partners step up to grow the sport, fencers like Myagmar will have to find ways to balance work with athletics.

He recently started a family business growing cucumbers and tomatoes alongside his father. The apprentice farmer practices fencing six days a week and then spends three hours each day welding greenhouses. It’s been tough to balance the two, but he knows it’s the only way he can continue with his sport.

The swordsman could look at all the difficulties that fog his path and be bogged down by hopelessness, but he isn’t. Instead, each challenge he overcomes propels him forward.

“It feels really satisfying seeing as it (fencing) is a very hard thing to do well in Mongolia.”

The three Mongolian fencers will compete in the men’s épée team event on Monday, 21 July against the USA. Elimination haunts them as one loss will remove them from competition. In the same way, however, history feels just around the corner; if they beat the United States it will mark the first time Mongolia has ever won a men’s team match at the biennial FISU tournament.

A pair of fencing gold medals were awarded on Sunday, with France edging Italy 37-34 in women’s team épée and the Republic of Korea defeating the Italian side 45-34 in men’s team sabre.  

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games take place from 16-27 July. Watch all the competitions live on fisu.tv . Click on the link to find the full schedule.

Written by Sarah Maat, FISU Young Reporter, Canada

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.