Through its Global Gateway program and the “We Are Creators” campaign, the EU aims to support the participation and growth of Mongolia’s youth and women. This cooperation aligns with the EU’s broader policy goals of fostering an inclusive, healthy society where everyone can succeed and promoting sustainable development. 

As part of its Global Gateway program, the European Union partnered with the Mongolian Basketball Association (MBA) to promote youth engagement and sport development. The recipients of the European Union-named National Basketball League “Rookie of the Year” awards were announced as O.Usukhbayar, a player for the Khan Falcons, and N. Altai, a player for AODE WINX, who emerged as leaders among the league’s new generation of young players. The season’s top male rookie was announced yesterday, while the top female rookie was revealed on January 12.

With over 30 years of history, the National Basketball League is Mongolia’s premier basketball competition and a tournament every athlete dreams of. It plays a vital role in promoting sports nationwide, inspiring children and young people to participate, developing future athletes, and motivating citizens to adopt active, healthy lifestyles.

Through its Global Gateway program and the “We Are Creators” campaign, the EU aims to support the participation and growth of Mongolia’s youth and women. This cooperation aligns with the EU’s broader policy goals of fostering an inclusive, healthy society where everyone can succeed and promoting sustainable development. 

When presenting the Women’s Rookie of the Year award, the Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia, H.E. Ms. Ina Marciulionyte, said: We value the role basketball plays in Mongolia because it brings people together and creates real space for both young people and women to thrive. Through our Global Gateway work—from infrastructure and agriculture to energy—we support development, and across all our projects, we also promote women’s empowerment as a key priority. That’s why it’s especially meaningful to see the women’s league growing here in Mongolia, where our focus is strongly on youth and women. And the message to young players is simple: be brave, set a clear goal, and keep working toward it—success mostly comes from effort, not luck. You can do it.

Women’s Rookie of the Year N. Altai also expressed her gratitude: 

“Thank you so much — I’m proud to receive this prestigious award in my first year. I achieved this through hard work, and I’ll keep working even harder moving forward. My teammates, family, and loved ones believed in me and supported me both on and off the court. I want to thank my two coaches. Without my teammates, I wouldn’t have earned this award. Basketball is a team sport, so I see this as an award for our entire team.”

Named the Women’s National Basketball League Rookie of the Year, N. Altai played in 15 games during the 2025–2026 season and posted impressive stats of 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, and 0.4 steals per game. 

Project Manager of the EU Delegation, Arnaud Appriou, who presented the award to the men’s Rookie of the Season said: “Today, we are excited to introduce Jeri, our new mascot who will represent our Global Gateway program in Mongolia. Global Gateway is our leading initiative implemented worldwide in areas like energy, infrastructure, health, and youth development. The European Union believes in the power of young people’s creativity and inspiration, and we are pleased to support the National Basketball League. As one of Mongolia’s key partners and a ‘third neighbor,’ the European Union remains dedicated to supporting sustainable development, education, and youth.”

Men’s Rookie of the Year: O. Usukhbayar said: “My Honored Coach O. Bayartsogt convinced me that to succeed, you must be brave, and that I can do it. That’s why I was able to push myself and believe in myself. I’m also grateful to my grandmother — I feel I’ve come this far thanks to her support. Thank you to everyone who helped me receive this award, and to my teammates.” 

The Men’s National Basketball League Rookie of the Year, O. Usukhbayar, played in 25 games and averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and a solid 45% field goal percentage. 

The European Union’s support is part of a larger set of investments in Mongolia under the Global Gateway strategy. This includes sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure, sustainable forestry, and eco-business. These efforts aim to promote sustainable growth by creating local jobs, developing essential skills, and strengthening youth capabilities.

About Global Gateway

Global Gateway is the European Union’s global initiative on sustainable development, investment, and partnerships. It focuses on addressing major global challenges such as tackling climate change, strengthening health systems, ensuring supply chain security, boosting competitiveness, and equipping young people with skills.

About the European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It was founded on shared values, including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, including those of minorities. Today, the EU works worldwide to support inclusive and sustainable social, economic, and environmental development for all.

Published Date:2026-03-09