Taekwondo fighter G.Bolor-Erdene will represent Mongolia for the first time at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.

Thanks to a decades-old presidential decree, Mongolian olympic and world champions are granted lifetime monthly salaries. Having won his first world championship in 2014, then winning his third title more recently in October 2017, G.Bolor-Erdene now makes his full-time living as a world class athlete. The average salary in Mongolia is less than USD 350 a month. Mongolian Olympic and world champion athletes receive USD 1,000 a month or more – for life. “Para-taekwondo has improved my life,” said Bolor Erdene. “I will get USD 2,000 a month if I win the gold medal at the next World Championships.”

Besides allowing him to train full-time and providing a stable living wage, this incredible winning streak is enabling him to concentrate on growing the sport in his own country. He said that while there are not any para-taekwondo tournaments in Mongolia just yet; however, six Mongolian athletes have competed at the recent world championships and the government has covered their travel expenses. He credits the government with creating a welcoming environment for para athletes.

G.Bolor-Erdene won his third gold medal at the London-2017, World Para Taekwondo Championships as the current world No.1 in the men’s under 61 kg K44. At the first-ever Para Taekwondo Asian Championships in 2015, G.Bolor-Erdene won gold medal going on to capture the world title later that year.