Ukrainian Sumo Wrestler Makes History At Top Championship
TOKYO (AP) — Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki became the first person to win the elite-level sumo championship in his country.
Even more impressive: He defeated Hoshoryu in the deciding match of the Kyushu tournament in Western Japan on Sunday.
Hoshoryu was born in Mongolia and is one of the top-ranked wrestlers in Japan’s national sport.
The other is Onosato, born in Japan.
Birthplace Danilo YavhushyshynHe left Ukraine more than 3½ years ago, just after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of his country.
He is only 21 years old, has risen very quickly and wrestles under the ring name Aonishiki Arata.
Non-Japanese sumo wrestlers have been successful in Japan at different periods.
They also included the Mongols Hawaiians and now a Ukrainian.
Aonishiki said he came to Japan after forming a friendship with a Japanese wrestler at a tournament in 2019.
Ukraine has a very strong tradition in Olympic wrestling.
Last gold medal winner Zhan Beleniuk In the Greco-Roman category of the Tokyo Games, which were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic.
