Mongolian Judoka Baasankhuu Wins Silver at the Paris Summer Olympics

Ulaanbaatar, July 27, 2024 /MONTSAME/. Mongolian judoka Baasankhuu Bavuudorj, a Gold Medalist at the Asian Championships 2024, Dushanbe Grand Slam 2024, and Abu Dhabi World Championships Seniors 2024, earned a silver medal at XXXIII Summer Olympics in Paris on July 27, 2024.

Bavuudorj began her Olympic journey with a decisive 2-0 victory over Malta's Esposito Katryna in the round of 32. She continued her dominant performance by securing an Ippon win against Austria's Tanzer Katharina in the round of 16.

The quarter-final saw Bavuudorj maintain her momentum, delivering another Ippon victory over Paraguay's Narvaez Gabriela. In a closely contested semi-final, she triumphed over Spain's Martinez Abelenda with a golden score.

In the gold medal match, Baasankhuu faced a formidable opponent Japan’s Tsunoda Natsumi, a three-time World Champion, five-time Grand Slam gold medalist, and Asian Champion. The intense match was a display of speed and power, with the two judokas fiercely competing for dominance. Unfortunately for Baasankhuu, Tsunoda's signature tome-nage proved decisive. Despite being aware of the move, the Mongolian judoka was caught off guard and thrown cleanly to her side.

B. Baasankhuu became the 12th athlete from Mongolia to win an Olympic silver medal, the fifth in Mongolian judo history, and the second Mongolian female judoka to achieve this honor.