Mongolia's debut is ''biggest moment'' in team's history

For the upcoming FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 Division B in Bangkok, the stakes are different for each of the teams. For some, it’s a chance at making it back to the top division. For others, the goal is to make it to Division A for the first time.

For Mongolia, the situation is a bit unique. This will be the senior women’s national team’s first time ever playing in a FIBA competition. The magnitude of their debut is not lost upon the players, especially B.Ariuntsetseg “Ariuka” who is expected to be one of the stars for the team.

“Definitely, it is the biggest moment in Mongolian women’s senior basketball team’s history,” said the 22-year-old. “It’s an honor for me to be able to participate in this tournament as a part of it. And it is my first time playing for the national team [in this format].”

While she will be a Women’s Asia Cup “rookie”, Ariuka is far from being inexperienced. She’s already been named MVP of “The League” in Mongolia, the domestic competition in which she plays for league champions Ulaanbaatar Amazons.

Additionally, she’s also the highest-ranked FIBA 3×3 player in the country at 74th and a frequent representative for the nation.

Aside from the personal drive to succeed, Ariuka also looked for inspiration from other Mongolia teams that have recently represented the nation on the FIBA scene. Whether the U16 women’s national team at the U18 Women’s Asian Championship 2022 Division B or the other FIBA 3×3 teams that have gone all the way to playing in the Olympics.

FIBA