B.Erkhembayar, a marksman of the “Khilchin” Sports Committee and International Master of Sport (IMS), competes in the air rifle discipline. He first stepped into the world of shooting under the guidance of IMS T.Bayarjargal, a respected coach from Khentii Province. After showing successful performances in major domestic tournaments—including provincial championships, the National Championships, and the People’s Spartakiad Games—he was called to join the Mongolian National Team, representing his country at continental competitions and the prestigious “World Cup” series.
At the 15th National Spartakiad Games in 2022, B.Erkhembayar broke the national record in the 10 m air rifle discipline with a score of 631.7 points. In January 2025, he raised the bar again at the Unified National Championships, setting a new record with 632.7 points in the qualification round. National Team Head Coach J.Gankhuyag praised the achievement, remarking: “632.7 is an exceptional score—any shooter with such a result would qualify for the finals at the world’s top competitions.”
To date, B.Erkhembayar has claimed 16 gold, eight silver, and eight bronze medals from national and international tournaments. Most recently, he won the silver medal in the men’s 50m rifle prone (622.6 points) at the 16th Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, earning recognition as one of the continent’s leading marksmen in his category. We spoke with the young athlete about his journey, challenges, and inspirations.
In previous competitions you often competed against more experienced shooters. How did it feel this time to face athletes of your own age in the junior category at the Asian Championships?
It was a great experience to test myself against peers in Asia. This was actually my third time competing in a continental championship, and I traveled to Kazakhstan together with my teammates. The weather in Shymkent was extremely hot and humid, but I managed to adapt quickly. Winning the silver medal there was especially meaningful because it was my first-ever international medal. Competing abroad made me realize that Mongolian athletes’ skills, training, and preparation are in no way inferior to others. However, since the state budget for the national team has been reduced, we now participate in fewer international events, and that undeniably affects our performance.
Many in the sports community say Coach T.Bayarjargal is known for producing outstanding athletes. As one of his students, how would you describe his coaching style?
I grew up in Khentii Province. Back in 2019, when I was an eighth grader, I was introduced to shooting thanks to a classmate and soon began training with Coach T.Bayarjargal. He is a principled coach who tailors his training methods to each athlete’s personality and style. From the very beginning, he focused on building my technique step by step. His words have stayed with me: “Don’t just think about how to shoot—learn to work with yourself first.” That philosophy shaped my career.
My first competition that same year earned me the First-Class Sports Degree, marking the start of my journey. In 12th grade, I won the provincial championship, and in 2022 I triumphed at the Spartakiad, taking a gold medal in the 10m air rifle, a bronze medal in the 50m 3x20 event, and bronze again in the mixed team competition. Shortly after, I was invited to join the National Team.
I’ll never forget the day I came to training and my coach told me: “From today, you are a national team athlete. You’ve been selected for the squad.” Every athlete dreams of that moment, but only a few ever achieve it. It was one of the happiest and most emotional days of my life. Interestingly, three other girls from our province also trained in shooting, but eventually chose different paths.
We also heard you were successful in gymnastics before focusing on shooting. How did your parents react when you shifted sports?
My parents are herders living far away from the provincial center. My parents didn’t object much when I switched from gymnastics to shooting. Although they’ve never been able to watch my competitions in person, they now have a clear understanding of shooting as a sport. I’m the youngest in the family, with three older brothers, and they have supported me from the very beginning of my athletic journey. Once I joined the National Team, I had little time left for university studies, so I decided to focus fully on my sports career and competing in international events. At first, I looked up to the senior athletes in our team, learning from their discipline and technique. But over time, I became their equal competitor, which pushed me to refine my skills and improve my technical mastery.
From the tournaments you’ve taken part in, what have you observed and learned most?
The 2022 Asian Championships in Daegu, South Korea, was truly eye-opening. It helped me see where I stood among the best and made me realize the importance of learning from my opponents’ strengths. That event gave me the determination to set higher goals for my career. Later, I competed at the World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, where two of my teammates, N.Bayaraa and O.Yesugen, reached the finals in the air rifle event. After that, I participated in the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. The Games were remarkable—China organizes sporting events at the highest level. From the moment our team landed, volunteers welcomed us and guided us to the athletes’ village, where the facilities were impressive and comfortable. In the shooting competition, athletes from China and India dominated the podium, proving their strength. Our Mongolian women’s rifle team managed to win a bronze medal there, which was a proud moment.
You are now recognized as one of Asia’s top male rifle shooters. But this achievement surely didn’t come easily.
At the continental championships, I competed in the junior men’s 50m rifle prone event against strong athletes from South Korea, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, and Japan. I earned a silver medal with 622.6 points. The gold medal went to a Kazakh shooter with 624.1 points, and the bronze medal to a Korean athlete with 618 points. The margins were extremely close. I actually led the competition at first, but in the final five shots, I lost focus under pressure and made mistakes. My heart was racing, and I grew anxious. That’s when I truly understood: in shooting, success doesn’t come from defeating your opponents—it comes from defeating yourself.
My coach, J.Gankhuyag, competed in the men’s 50m rifle prone in the senior category at the same event and placed 16th, which was inspiring to see. Unlike athletes in power sports, shooters don’t display much emotion outwardly; instead, the sport demands deep concentration. Standing still for hours with a rifle aimed at the target can be exhausting. For context, an air rifle weighs about five kg, and the 50m event rifles weigh up to eight kg. Over time, you build the endurance to handle it.
My early background in gymnastics has been a great advantage, since gymnastics builds the foundations for many other sports. The discipline, body control, and balance I developed back then still help me in training and competitions today. Outside of practice, I also enjoy cycling in my free time—it keeps me active, helps prevent lack of movement, and doubles as strength training.
Athletes often face challenges along the way. Surely, you too have encountered such moments. Have you ever doubted yourself or thought about stepping away from the sport when success seemed far off?
I have had my share of discouraging moments. In 2023, I even considered quitting altogether. That year, although I participated in competitions, my scores did not improve, and I failed to achieve any significant results. Training felt repetitive and monotonous, and I began to lose motivation. However, in 2024, I relied on the experience I had gained from international competitions, changed my training methods, and started working more closely with myself. In our national shooting team, athletes are entered into three competitions, and the one who achieves the highest score earns the right to compete in international, continental, and world championships. When I competed in the World Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan, I observed two essential aspects among my competitors: one was shooting technique, and the other was the ability to control one’s mental state. Those lessons proved extremely valuable in my later competitions. Step by step, I improved my skills and, in January 2025, I broke and reset the national record in the 50-meter air rifle event at the Unified Associations National Championships.
National team athletes rarely seem to have much free time. Do you ever get a chance to return home and rest with your family?
Every two months or so, I go home to see my parents and spend a few days resting. Breathing the fresh countryside air and feeling the wind of my homeland truly refreshes my spirit and restores my energy. Among my family, I am the only one pursuing sports. At first, I used my friend’s air rifle for training, but after getting my own, I began to succeed in domestic competitions. Since joining the national team, I have already changed rifles twice. To achieve success, an athlete needs to have the best equipment and tools. At present, I am competing with the latest models from Germany—Walther LG500 for the 10-meter discipline and Walther KK300 for the 50-meter event.
Many young shooters seem reserved and quiet. Has this sport shaped you into such a person, or were you always this way?
During both training and competitions, we rarely talk among ourselves. Because we have to control our excitement and compete only with ourselves, we may seem quiet to others. I was already a reserved and soft-spoken child growing up, which turned out to suit shooting very well. Since becoming an athlete, I meet my friends less often, but recently my circle of friendships within the sports community has expanded. Sharing joys and struggles with teammates has brought us closer. Personally, I have always looked up to my senior, N. Bayaraa. I have learned a lot from him and sought his advice, so we have become close. He never imitates others but relies on his own style to move forward and achieve results.
Among your awards, which medal holds the most special place on your ribbon?
Most of my medals are carefully kept by my parents. On my own ribbon, at the very top, I placed the gold medal I won in the shooting event at the “Children’s Festival” and the Mongolian People’s XV Spartakiad, along with the silver medal I earned at the National Gymnastics Championship. Gymnastics, however, has an age limit. Its nature requires athletes to achieve results at a young age. When I reached middle school, I was no longer eligible to continue competing. My coach asked, “Do you want to carry on with aerobics instead?” But my heart wasn’t in it, so I did not continue. Shooting, on the other hand, has no age restriction. As long as an athlete has the skill, they can pursue it for as long as they wish.
How much of your goals for 2025 do you think you have achieved so far?
I have already accomplished part of what I had planned. Two major competitions still await our national team this year. The Mongolian People’s Spartakiad is held once every four years, so it always brings tough competition and excitement. This will be my second time competing, but now in the senior category. In the previous Spartakiad, I won one gold and two bronze medals. This time, I aim to improve my results and win in all three air rifle disciplines. After that, in November, our team will head to Egypt to compete in the World Championship. Starting next year, qualification points for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics will be on the line. That makes the coming year one of immense responsibility and significance for us.
