The Mongolian National Olympic Committee (MNOC) has reported the death of its vice president Ts.Damdin at the age of 61.

Paying tribute, the governing body said Ts.Damdin was an ‘influential leader’ in sport and in the Olympic movement.

An accomplished athlete, he won a judo silver medal in the men’s under-65 kilograms class at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games. Ts.Damdin also won a World Championship title in sambo in Barcelona in 1979, and earned the high title of ‘falcon’ in Mongolian national wrestling.

Ts.Damdin has served as vice president of the MNOC since 2005 and was secretary general between 1999 and 2004. He was also secretary general of the Mongolian Judo Federation, an international referee for the International Judo Federation and a coach for the country’s national team. In addition, he held the seat of professor at the Mongolian National University of Physical Education and Sports.

Ts.Damdin was the father of three children, including judoka son D.Suldbayar who competed at the Athens 2004 Olympics.