Mongolian Hakuho smashes sumo record with 1,048th win

[July 21, 2017]  TOKYO (Reuters) - Mongolian sumo wrestler Hakuho on Friday smashed the record for most career wins in Japan's national sport as the 'yokozuna', or grand champion, took down Takayasu in a frenetic bout to deafening cheers at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

With his 1,048th win, the 32-year-old surpassed former wrestler Kaio's record, in place since 2011.

The Mongolian - who was so small when he arrived in Japan at age 15 only a minor sumo 'stable' would take him in - also holds the record for the most number of tournament wins.

"I'm glad that I was able to show this victory to the fans," the 192cm-framed wrestler said, struggling to catch his breath after the historic win against his 'ozeki'-ranked rival.

"If you put something into words, then it can come true. But you can also say my practice before this tournament and my body's condition led to this result."

The historic win came just 16 years after Hakuho's debut, versus the 23 years it took for the previous record holder.

Hakuho's success comes as foreign wrestlers increasingly dominate Japan's 15-century-old sport.

Three of the four wrestlers in the sport's top yokozuna rank are Mongolian. The fourth, Kisenosato, became the first home-grown grand champion in nearly two decades when he was promoted earlier in January.

Despite the prevalence of non-native 'rikishi', or wrestlers, the sumo association forbids foreign nationals from becoming sumo master, or 'oyakata' - a title that successful wrestlers often seek after they retire.

Mongolian-born sumo grand champion Hakuho (L) wins over Takayasu on the ring as he established all-time sumo record with his 1,048th win, at the 13rd day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, central Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo July 21, 2017. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Several local media reported on Friday that Hakuho plans to attain Japanese citizenship "in the near future" so he can be oyakata one day - a move that could stir controversy in his native Mongolia.

Hakuho's father is regarded as a national hero as the country's first-ever Olympic medalist, when he won silver for wrestling in 1968.

Hakuho was rumored to be seeking an exception to the nationality rule given his achievements in the sport, while the sumo association has repeatedly said it would not change the rule.

Six former rikishi have given up their original nationalities to become oyakata, since Japan does not allow adults to hold dual citizenship.

(Reporting by Ami Miyazaki and Stanley White; Writing by Chang-Ran Kim; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

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