Above - DAMDIN (far right) on the Moscow 1980 Olympic podium
DAMDIN was a member of the Mongolian national team since 1976 and won his country’s first Olympic judo medal in 1980 with silver in Moscow.
The 7th Dan, who was the sambo world champion in 1979, went on to become a national team coach and famously led his charges to medals (one silver, one bronze) at the 1989 World Championships.
DAMDIN also controlled the action on the tatami as a leading referee and officiated at major events such as the 2007 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, the Asian Games and Asian Championships.
As a key figure in the development of judo in his homeland, DAMDIN also worked as the General Secretary of the Mongolian Judo Association and contributed greatly to the Olympic movement as the Mongolian Olympic Committee’s General Secretary and later as its Vice President.
The Mongolian hero received the State Award as Honorary Athlete of Mongolia in 1979 and after the Beijing 2008 gold medal won by NAIDAN Tuvshinbayar, received the President’s highest award of People’s Teacher.
Above - With Juan CARLOS BARCOS, IJF Head Referee Director
The IJF sends its deepest condolences to the Mongolian Judo Association, the Mongolian Olympic Committee and to the friends and family of DAMDIN Tzendjing.