Mongolian President Battulga Khaltmaa, centre, has visited the country's National Sambo Championships ©FIAS

Mongolian President Battulga Khaltmaa has visited the country's National Sambo Championships.

The 54-year-old was on hand at the Buyant-Uhaa Sports Complex in the country's capital city Ulaanbaatar. 

Battulga is no stranger to sambo, winning the under-52 kilograms gold medal at the 1983 World Championships in Kyiv in Ukraine.

He also won two other silver medals at World Championship level.

In addition, he has served as President of the Mongolian Judo Association since 2006.

During his tenure, the country won its first Olympic gold when Naidangiin Tuvshinbavar claimed the men's 100kg title at Beijing 2008.

Battulga Khaltmaa became Mongolia's leader in July of last year ©Getty Images
Battulga Khaltmaa became Mongolia's leader in July of last year ©Getty Images

At the Championships, Battulga discussed sambo in Mongolia with International Sambo Federation (FIAS) Executive Committee member Vladimir Yaprintsev, and FIAS executive director Sergey Tabakov.

He became Mongolia's leader in July 2017, coming out on top of a second vote for the Democratic Party against main rival Miyeegombyn Enkbold of the Mongolian People's Party.

Battulga received 50.61 per cent of the votes in a run-off which was required after none of the three candidates in contention had an overall majority in an original count a month prior.