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Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (front) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. Battsetseg Soronzonbold became a national hero in her native Mongolia after winning wrestling bronze at the London Olympics and is determined to turn the medal into gold in Rio next month. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (front) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. Battsetseg Soronzonbold became a national hero in her native Mongolia after winning wrestling bronze at the London Olympics and is determined to turn the medal into gold in Rio next month. Born in a country with a long tradition of wrestling, the 26-year-old Battsetseg, whose name means “unbreakable flower”, is currently training twice a day with about a dozen young men and women in a camp some 45 minutes drive from Ulaanbaatar. The popularity of wrestling in the country of under three million people, sandwiched between Russia and China, is only paralleled by their love for horses, meat and an alcoholic mare's milk concoction called airag. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Direction signs are seen at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Direction signs are seen at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



A training partner helps Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg stretch after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A training partner helps Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg stretch after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



The Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre is seen among the grasslands in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

The Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre is seen among the grasslands in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg (R) rests on her training partner's leg after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg (R) rests on her training partner's leg after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold walks toward the dormitory after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold walks toward the dormitory after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold eats lunch after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold eats lunch after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (L) and her teammate Sumiya Erdenechimeg are seen during an interview with Reuters on the grasslands after a daily training session outside the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (L) and her teammate Sumiya Erdenechimeg are seen during an interview with Reuters on the grasslands after a daily training session outside the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold walks toward the dormitory after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold walks toward the dormitory after a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's wrestler Oyuntuya Otgonbat reacts as her teammate Sarankhuhuo Erdenetuya ties her hair before a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's wrestler Oyuntuya Otgonbat reacts as her teammate Sarankhuhuo Erdenetuya ties her hair before a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



A training partner of Mongolia's Olympic wrestler team climbs a rope during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A training partner of Mongolia's Olympic wrestler team climbs a rope during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



A training partner of Mongolia's Olympic wrestler team does pull-ups after a daily training session outside the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A training partner of Mongolia's Olympic wrestler team does pull-ups after a daily training session outside the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



An outdoor training ground is seen among the grasslands at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

An outdoor training ground is seen among the grasslands at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's wrestler Cantuya Enkhbat prepares for a daily training session at the dormitory of the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's wrestler Cantuya Enkhbat prepares for a daily training session at the dormitory of the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's wrestler Oyuntuya Otgonbat (C) warms up ahead of a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's wrestler Oyuntuya Otgonbat (C) warms up ahead of a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold stretches ahead of a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold stretches ahead of a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (top) helps her teammate Cantuya Enkhbat stretch during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (top) helps her teammate Cantuya Enkhbat stretch during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



A coach wraps bandage on the hand of Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A coach wraps bandage on the hand of Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Oyuntuya OtgoNbat (R) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Oyuntuya OtgoNbat (R) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (C) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (C) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg stretches her neck ahead of a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg stretches her neck ahead of a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg (L) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Mongolia's wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg (L) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)
07 Jul 2016 11:54:00