Ukrainian §à?³ú±ð°ì¾± Aonishiki won his second straight tournament on Sunday to take his meteoric rise in the ancient sport to new heights.
The 21-year-old, who fled the war in Ukraine three years ago, triumphed at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo for the second title of his fledgling career.
Aonishiki became the first wrestler from Ukraine to win an Emperor¡¯s Cup when he came out on top at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November.
That earned him promotion to sumo¡¯s second-highest rank of §à?³ú±ð°ì¾± in record time, having made his debut in July 2023.
Aonishiki is the first §à?³ú±ð°ì¾± to win while debuting at the rank since Hakuho, who went on to win a record 45 Emperor¡¯s Cups, in 2006.
His second title takes him a step closer to promotion to the exalted highest rank of yokozuna, a feat no European-born wrestler has ever achieved.
Aonishiki, whose real name is Danylo Yavhusishyn, is only the fourth European to become an §à?³ú±ð°ì¾±.
During the latest 15-day tournament to Sunday, he achieved a 12-3 win-loss record, trying him with rank-and-file wrester Atamifuji.
The two battled in a nail-biting playoff, which began with the Ukrainian on his back foot.
His heavier rival unleashed a powerful attack and quickly pressed Aonishiki to the edge of the ring.
But Aonishiki unleashed a left-arm kubinage neck throw, forcing the wrestler to the ground.
¡°I was able to win, thanks to you,¡± Aonishiki said in a winner¡¯s address to the roaring, sold-out crowd at Kokugikan.
He set his sights on climbing the sumo hierarchy, pledging to do ever better in the next tournament.
¡°I will do my best so that I will have better records than this tournament,¡± he said.
Aonishiki will have the chance to make it a hat trick of titles when he competes in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka in March.
Another win would likely put him in contention for promotion to the rank of grand champion, something only wrestlers from Japan, the United States and Mongolia have ever achieved.
Aonishiki was born in central Ukraine and took up sumo at the age of 7, becoming a national champion at 17.
His age meant he narrowly avoided Ukraine¡¯s military draft for men 18 and older after Russia invaded and he sought refuge in Germany, before moving to Japan.
His parents stayed in Germany and he arrived in Japan not knowing the language.
He became the second Ukraine-born professional sumo wrestler when he made his debut, following in the footsteps of Serhii Sokolovskyi, better known as Shishi.
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