First Naadam of 2022 Season

The Bokhin Ayin team attended their first Naadam of the 2022 season this past week in Zuun Sunid, Xilingol, Inner Mongolia. It was a 64-man local competition with most wrestlers from Zuun Sunid, as well as some visiting wrestlers from nearby Baruun Sunid, Xilinhot, and Lan Qi. The weather conditions were less than favorable with extremely high winds and sandy conditions and the field was quite sandy and rocky as well. Although the temperature was a comfortable 70-something degrees, the wind and sand added an element of discomfort for both the wrestlers and audience.

Bokhin Ayin’s Lavell “American Hangai” won his first round against Eremjilt, a high level and well-decorated Chinese Shuai Jiao Champion. In the second round, Lavell fell to Chagaan Bar, one of Coach Hohoo’s best students. The top four wrestlers of the competition where (as seen in the first photo): _____ “The American” (our nickname for him) who placed 4th, Bayasul (a famous singer here in Inner Mongolia) who placed 3rd, _______ “NFL” (our nickname for him) from Baruun Sunid who placed 2nd, and _______ a young up and coming freestyle wrestler who recently medaled in the Chinese National games, and who was the champion for this spring Naadam.

All and all, it was an exciting event which the whole Bokhin Ayin team enjoyed thoroughly and we are looking forward to many more exciting Naadams as summer approaches.

Written by Ariela