Mongolian Wrestling

Wrestling is the most national and popular of all Mongol sports. It is the highlight of the Three Manly Games. Historians claim that Mongol-style wrestling originated some seven thousand years ago. Hundreds of wrestlers from different cities and aimags of the country take part in the national wrestling competition. There are no weight categories or age limits. Each wrestler has his own attendant herald. The aim of the sport is to knock one's opponent off balance and throw him down, making him touch the ground with his elbow and knee. The winners are honoured with ancient titles: the winner of the fifth round gets an honorary title of nachin (falcon), of the seventh and eighth rounds zaan (elephant), and of the tenth and eleventh rounds arslan (lion). The wrestler who twice absolute champion is awarded the title ofavarga (Titan). Every subsequent victory at the national Naadam-festival will add an epithet to his avarga title, like "Invicible Titan", "Invincible Titan to be remembered by all" etc. From in 2003 the Mongolian parliament adopted a new law on Naadam, making amendments to some of the wrestling titles. The titles of Garudi and Hartsaga (Hawk) were added to the existing above-mentioned titles.