KURUME, Japan, Nov 26 (Kyodo/APP): Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki was promoted Wednesday to the sport’s second-highest rank, ozeki, in the wake of his victory at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
The 21-year-old becomes the first Ukrainian ozeki after winning his maiden elite-level championship at the 15-day meet through Sunday at Fukuoka Kokusai Center while competing from the third-highest rank, sekiwake.
He clinched the Emperor’s Cup in impressive fashion, defeating yokozuna Hoshoryu in a tie-breaking playoff after both finished with 12 wins and three losses.
The prodigious grappler, whose real name is Danylo Yavhusishyn, has taken the sumo world by storm since his debut in September 2023, barely 17 months after relocating to Japan from his war-torn home country.
The Japan Sumo Association officially confirmed Aonishiki’s promotion at a meeting Wednesday morning in Tokyo, which was followed by a promotion ceremony in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, where the wrestler’s Ajigawa stable has been based for the Kyushu tournament.
“There is still one higher rank, so I would like to aim for that,” Aonishiki said. “I am confident (but) I need to improve in all areas. Sumo’s flagship ranks are yokozuna and ozeki. I will do my best with a firm sense of responsibility.”
His ozeki promotion after just 14 tournaments smashes the previous record of 19, set by Bulgarian-born Kotooshu, for the fastest by a wrestler who debuted in the lowest of professional sumo’s six divisions, jonokuchi, since 1958, when the present calendar of six grand tournaments per year was adopted.
Wrestlers with outstanding amateur records, such as current yokozuna Onosato, debuted in the third-tier makushita division.
Aonishiki’s promotion to ozeki after just five tournaments in the elite makuuchi division ties Onosato for the fastest on record since 1958.
At 21 years and eight months, Aonishiki is the fourth-youngest wrestler to have his ozeki promotion confirmed during the current era. All-time great Hakuho is ahead of him on the list, having achieved the feat less than a month after his 21st birthday.
With a background in freestyle wrestling and judo along with sumo, Aonishiki has become known for his trademark grappling style, featuring a low, forward-leaning stance and a resilience to slap-down and push-down maneuvers.
He has shown remarkable consistency, winning at least 11 bouts in each of his five makuuchi tournaments.
Aonishiki will join Kotozakura at the second-highest rank, ensuring there will be two yokozuna and two ozeki at January’s New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo.