Ulaanbaatar
Murun Purevdorj to Compete in the "2025 Dakar Rally"
Sports
Ulaanbaatar, December 17, 2024 /MONTSAME/. The "2025 Dakar Rally," known as the "Olympics of Motorsport" and the most enduring and historical event in auto-moto racing since its inception in 1977, will begin on January 3, 2025.
Participants will cover a distance of 7,500 kilometers, starting from Bisha, Saudi Arabia, and finishing on January 17. Representing Mongolia in the motorcycle category, P. Murun is preparing to compete. The 27-year-old athlete is the son of international motorsport master A. Purevdorj. Throughout his career, P. Murun has competed in 73 national and 10 international competitions, earning 45 gold, 19 silver, and 7 bronze medals. He will become the 13th Mongolian to participate in the Dakar Rally and the seventh to compete in the motorcycle category.
P. Murun began his journey with motorcycles at the age of six and has pursued the sport since he was 13. Mongolia first participated in the Dakar Rally in 2013 when Honored Athlete of Mongolia D. Boldbaatar and International Master N. Lhamaa competed. Subsequently, D. Boldbaatar competed three times, and N. Lhamaa participated five times.
Over the years, Mongolian riders have competed as follows:
- 2014: D. Boldbaatar, N. Lhamaa, and H. Batbold
- 2015: N. Lhamaa, U. Byambadelger, U. Byambatsogt, B. Surendorj, D. Boldbaatar, Ch. Anar, and D. Jargalsaikhan
- 2019: N. Lhamaa, U. Byambadelger, and U. Byambatsogt
- 2022: N. Lhamaa, B. Battur, G. Aranzal, and G. Temuujin
- 2024: Ch. Ganzorig
The highest achievement for Mongolia came in the 2019 Dakar Rally in Peru, where brothers U. Byambadelger and U. Byambatsogt won the bronze medal in the UTV Open category, covering a 5,000-kilometer distance. Additionally, Honored Athlete of Mongolia D. Boldbaatar placed 45th in the motorcycle category, while in 2015, Member of the State Great Khural of Mongolia Ch. Anar achieved a notable milestone by racing continuously for 72 hours without dismounting his motorcycle.
The Dakar Rally is not merely a race of speed; it tests the endurance, skill, and resilience of athletes in some of the harshest natural conditions. The State Committee of Physical Education and Sports of Mongolia has extended financial support to P. Murun for his participation in this extraordinary challenge.
