FIGHTER: Nyamaa Dolgorsuren practises with her coach Battulga Nasankhuu. — Photo courtesy of CNCF Mongolia

HCM CITY — She may be a lean, mean fighting machine, but this teenage martial art star faced her biggest battle outside the ring.

As a child, Nyamaa Dolgorsuren was raised on the streets of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia with her younger sister.

Life was tough for the two siblings and there seemed little light at the end of the tunnel.

That was until they were rescued by the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF).

“They came from a very, very abusive background and a very sad situation,” said Helenita Noble, CEO of the foundation.

“Nyamaa especially was angry, she was provoked very easily. She was on her guard all the time because she had lost faith and she had lost trust in the world around her, and especially the people.

“But with a lot of love, care, attention and understanding, she eventually learned to trust again, as did her younger sister.”

That love and attention came from the dedicated volunteers at the CNCF.

For 30 years they have been rescuing children from the streets of Asia and helping them rediscover their childhood.

“They were picked up by local police in Mongolia because they were begging on the streets,” added Helenita.

“They were very emaciated, they were very ill. They were in a very, very desperate, sad situation. They experienced things no child, no human should ever experience.”

After being given shelter and a home with the foundation, one particular activity proved to be a real turning point in her life.

Nyamaa began learning taekwondo, a martial art that originated in Korea but is now practised the world over.

And it was clear to see she was a natural.

“For me the discipline practices of taekwondo have made me who I am today,” said the 14-year-old.

“Taekwondo also helped me communicate with others and I’ve learned to respect one another through the sport.

“Whenever I practise taekwondo I feel everything is so positive. It was not easy for me to practise all these years, but my goal, my endurance and hard discipline have helped me overcome my difficulties.

“Most importantly it is my CNCF family that is there for me.”

Last month, Nyamaa was competing in HCM City, where she eventually finished in a respectable third place.

She used her time in Việt Nam to visit HCM City’s branch of the foundation, where she took time to speak to children and show off her taekwondo skills.

“When I got to meet Nyamaa, she really inspired me,” said pupil Nguyễn Trang Bình.

“I learned from her, from her love of taekwondo and how committed she is.”

Nyamaa has already been made a sports master in her home country, but she has set her sights on a much bigger prize.

The teenager is hoping to represent Mongolia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

And her coach believes nothing is impossible.

“She is building self-confidence through the sport and her hopes in life are big,” said Battulger Nasankhuu, who has been teaching her martial arts for almost five years.

“Sports bring us strong self-confidence, self-discipline, a better future and the chance to become active members of the Mongolian community.

“I have worked with her from the beginning and have witnessed her progress since she came to CNCF’s village and was introduced to taekwondo.

“Nyamaa now has the mental wellbeing of a sportswoman, positive attitude and works hard for big tournaments.

“Most importantly, she has learned about setting a goal and working hard for that goal. As her coach, I am very proud and thankful to CNCF for being in Nyamaa's life and supporting her.” — VNS

GLOSSARY

She may be a lean, mean fighting machine, but this teenage martial art star faced her biggest battle outside the ring.

Martial arts is the group of sports, used in self-defence, that includes karate and judo.

A ring, in this case, means an area in which people fight when they take part in sports that require them to take one another on.

Life was tough for the two siblings and there seemed little light at the end of the tunnel.

Siblings are brothers or sisters, no matter what their sex.

A light at the end of the tunnel means “hope somewhere in the future”.

“They came from a very, very abusive background and a very sad situation,” said Helenita Noble, CEO of the foundation.

Abusive means being treated very badly and in a nasty, cruel way.

“Nyamaa especially was angry, she was provoked very easily.”

To be provoked means to be made to react to something in an attacking way.

 She was on her guard all the time because she had lost faith and she had lost trust in the world around her, and especially the people.

Faith means belief.

Trust is a belief that someone will be good to you.

That love and attention came from the dedicated volunteers at the CNCF.

People who are dedicated consider it important to do things they are dedicated to.

Volunteers are people who are willing to work without getting paid.

For 30 years they have been rescuing children from the streets of Asia and helping them rediscover their childhood.

To rediscover your childhood means to find it once again.

“They were very emaciated, they were very ill.”

Emaciated means sickly.

“They were in a very, very desperate, sad situation.”

To be desperate means to be in great need of help.

Nyamaa began learning taekwondo, a martial art that originated in Korea but is now practised the world over.

If taekwondo, originated in Korea, it started in that country.

“Taekwondo also helped me communicate with others and I’ve learned to respect one another through the sport.

To communicate means to send messages. It can be by talking, by writing or even giving someone a hug to tell them you love them.

“It was not easy for me to practise all these years, but my goal, my endurance and hard discipline have helped me overcome my difficulties.

Your goal is what you are aiming for.

Endurance means being able to keep going and not give up when times are hard.

Discipline means living strictly to rules.

To overcome difficulties means to win over them.

Last month, Nyamaa was competing in HCM City, where she eventually finished in a respectable third place.

Respectable means worthy of respect.

“When I got to meet Nyamaa, she really inspired me,” said pupil Nguyễn Trang Bình.

To be inspired means to want to go out and do something positive.

“She is building self-confidence through the sport and her hopes in life are big,” said Battulger Nasankhuu, who has been teaching her martial arts for almost five years.

Self-confidence means belief in yourself.

“Nyamaa now has the mental wellbeing of a sportswoman, positive attitude and works hard for big tournaments.

Mental means to do with the mind.

WORKSHEET

Find words that mean the following in the Word Search:

1. The city where the 2024 Olympics will be held.
2. The country where taekwondo started.
3. An abbreviation for Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.
4. A female sibling.
5. Another word for sick.

ANSWERS: 1. Paris; 2. Korea; 3. CNCF; 4. Sister; 5. Ill.