The first day of competition at the Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar delivered a message of future potential for the Mongolian Judo Association. Although Japan topped the medal table, the Mongolian team, many members of which are still cadets, equipped themselves extremely well, finishing the day with 5 medals.
Mongolia sits in 4th place ahead of the second day, but with the same number of medals as Japan. This is a strong sign that all is well in Mongolia.
The podium was littered with first-time medallists and young judoka just finding their way into the elite ranks, although Galitskaia (IJF), Vieru (MDA) and others stopped it being a total whitewash for the newcomers.
From great judo to perfect hospitality, the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam has begun on a good footing and with two further days of exciting judo, important results and development ahead, Mongolia is delivering on every level.
