Mongolian Hakuho was promoted to grand champion yesterday, becoming the fourth non-Japanese to reach sumo's highest rank.
Hakuho, whose real name is Munkhbat Davaajargal, gained promotion after sealing back-to-back Emperor's Cups and the third of his career on Saturday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) finalized Hakuho's promotion yesterday.
PHOTO: AP
The 22-year-old Hakuho becomes the 69th grand champion in sumo history and the first since fellow Mongolian Asashoryu was promoted after the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January 2003.
Hakuho is the third-youngest wrestler to reach sumo's summit. JSA chairman Kitanoumi and former great Taiho earned promotion to yokozuna when they were 21 years old.
The title of yokozuna, or grand champion, is considered a mark of honor, and its holders are held to high standards.
Japan's ancient sport hasn't had a Japanese grand champion since Takanohana retired in January 2003.
Hakuho is one of eight Mongolian wrestlers competing in sumo's elite division. He made his debut in March 2001 and was promoted to the second-highest rank of ozeki in May last year, when he won his first Emperor's Cup.
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up a brief visit to Brazil on Friday with a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but despite the defeat, the team outshone their divisional rivals in the fight for the hearts and minds of Brazilian fans. In Sao Paulo for just the second-ever NFL game in the city, Chiefs players — especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce — were treated as major celebrities throughout their stay, turning Corinthians Arena into a scene reminiscent of the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. Before kickoff, crowds of fans gathered around the Chiefs’ tunnel, eager to catch a
New Zealand stayed firm at their Eden Park fortress to claim an attritional 24-17 win over South Africa in a heavyweight clash between the world’s top two rugby sides yesterday. Under pressure after conceding a first-ever defeat on Argentine soil against the Pumas two weeks ago, the All Blacks responded with a performance of grit and discipline to stretch their unbeaten run at their Auckland stronghold to 51 matches. Two well-taken tries by Emoni Narawa and Will Jordan set up a 14-3 lead at halftime before Quinn Tupaea grabbed a third five-pointer for the hosts 13 minutes from time. Well-held for most of
The Wallabies trusted their instincts to keep pushing for a late try instead of a potential equalizing penalty goal late in their Rugby Championship Test match yesterday against Argentina, with prop Angus Bell scoring the clinching try in the sixth minute of added time to give Australia a comeback 28-24 win. The Wallabies were awarded three kickable penalties after the 80th minute, but kept pushing in search of the match-winning try, which was finally delivered by an unlikely hero in reserve prop Bell. “It’s just relieving,” Bell said. “It’s just awesome we could get the win in the end; not go for
RETURN TO FORM: Osaka extended her deepest run in a Grand Slam since returning to tennis after giving birth, putting her in a position to lift the trophy for a third time Reigning champion Jannik Sinner on Wednesday marched into the US Open quarter-finals as Amanda Anisimova avenged her Wimbledon thrashing by Iga Swiatek to set up a last-four clash with Naomi Osaka. World No. 1 Sinner swept aside 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the first all-Italian men’s quarter-final in Grand Slam history. “It was a great performance, very solid. I started the match very well,” said Sinner, who faces Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals today. Auger-Aliassime has won two of three previous meetings, but Sinner thrashed him for the loss of just two games in Cincinnati last month. “Every
RSS