How Mongolia became a 3x3 powerhouse

ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - The FIBA 3x3 World Tour's next stop is at the Ulaanbaatar Masters on June 8-9 as the half-court game returns to the country where it has struck considerable success and widespread popularity. 

With a population of just over three million people, nomadic Mongolia has been a major success story for 3x3 and become a symbol of FIBA's mission of spreading hoops into new frontiers.

Basketball arrived in Mongolia in the early 1960s, but really boomed during the 1990s as the resource rich East Asian country opened up to the world.

Streetball competitions started to emerge in the mid-2000s and foreshadowed what was ahead once 3x3 was officially launched by FIBA in 2010. 

Mongolia were something of 3x3 pioneers with their men's team winning silver at the Asian Beach Games in 2016. Momentum was building for 3x3 in Mongolia with Ulaanbaatar winning the bid to host the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2017. 

Mongolia (men) thrilled the loud home fans in Ulaanbaatar to claim the country's first ever gold medal in any form of hoops.

They did it in style by beating the region's powerhouses Australia and New Zealand in the knockout stages to stamp themselves as a new heavyweight in 3x3. 

It started a 3x3 love affair for Mongolians as the country played host to many events on the men's and women's pro circuit. The success also translated to the women's, who memorably qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. 

As 3x3 quickly ascended to the most popular team sport in Mongolia, superstar Khulan Onolbaatar became the first female flag bearer in her country's Olympic history.

Onolbaatar's greatest moment on the half-court was still ahead as she inspired Mongolia to a drought-breaking bronze medal at the recent Asia Cup in Singapore. 

It came a year after Mongolia (men's) produced one of the most epic triumphs to end Australia's dominance of the Asia Cup as sharpshooter Anand Ariunbold hit one of the craziest buzzer beaters in 3x3 history. 

The victory kick-started a historic year for the Mongolians, whose premier team Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy won the title at the Shanghai Masters. It was the first triumph by a Mongolian team on the World Tour, but won't be the last. 

Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, among three Mongolian teams in the draw, will be hoping for glory at the Ulaanbaatar Masters in front of their passionate fans, who will be willing their hometown heroes on. 

The event is part of a 3x3 fiesta in the Mongolian capital with the Women's Series Ulaanbaatar Stop to be played on June 6-7. 

And the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2024 will be staged in Ulaanbaatar later this year to further highlight that Mongolia is a 3x3 powerhouse on-and-off the half-court. 

FIBA