Sumo Wrestlers play basketball in Mongolia

It has been 40 years since Mongolia and Japan first established diplomatic relations and 20 years since the first Mongol started sumo wrestling. Sumo wrestlers arrived to compete with the Mongolian national wrestlers in the basketball show-competition Ikh Mongoliin Altan Odod 2. Yokozana Hakuho, M.Davaajargal, Kakuryu M.Anand, Asasekiryu B.Dashnam, Ryuo E.Sanchirbold and Kyokshuho T.Erdenebaatar arrived on Tuesday at the Chingis Khan Intentional airport and Harumafuji D.Byambadorj, Kyokutenho N.Tsevegnyam and Tokitenku A.Khuchitbaatar arrived on May 23rd. Judo wrestler Kh.Tsangaanbaatar and Arslan (the second rank of Mongolian national wrestling) Kh.Munkhbaatar who were training in Japan accompanied them to Ulaanbaatar.

Yokozana Hakuho’s family members, Dayan Avarga (the Great champion of national wrestling) G.Usukhbayar, young Avarga (the Champion of national wrestling) Munkhbat, National Avarga D.Gankhuyag and members of Hakuho foundation came to greet them.

The basketball show-competition Ikh Mongoliin Altan Odod 2 was held yesterday at the Wrestling Palace. 

Mon Laa Group, Hakuho foundation, TLG-13 and Amjiltiin Tuluu Khamtadaa organisations are sponsoring the event and all the profit swill be donated to the National Centre for Maternal and Child Health. Equipment worth 20 million MNT and study materials and equipment for 1200 children in the Child Care Centre will be donated. 

Before the event the 69th Yokozana Hakuho M.Davaajargal stated, “Most of this year’s competitors are young people. Sumo wrestlers have been on a very tight schedule lately. The national wrestlers accepted our challenge gracefully because the show is for humanitarian purposes and we are very grateful. I heard that the national wrestling team is well trained this year, but we won’t yield easily either. Our team is formed of Harumafuji, Kakuryu, Asasekiryu, Tokitenku and three secret players. I will not reveal them yet but I can say that our main player is Kakuryu. We also have a surprise for our competitors.”

Dayan Avarga G.Usukhbayar stated, “While the sumo wrestlers were competing in Japan we have trained very hard. Our team is certain to be victorious. Our team has improved drastically because we have great athletes such as Avarga S.Munkhbat, Arslan D.Gankhuyag, Garid J.Bat-Erdene. We believe we will win this time, but it is more gratifying to help the children of Mongolia. Let’s meet at the Wrestling Palace on Thursday.

Honorary Labourer and Honorary Athlete Kh.Tsangaanbaatar stated, “Our Amjiltiin Tuluu Khamtdaa organisation is extremely grateful to be participating in this good will event. We have always supported philanthropic works and will continue to do so in the future. I would like to thank Yokozana Hakuho for creating this event. We have also prepared some surprises and Olympic champions and I will be organising a sport and art celebrity show.

This year’s highlight in the Sumo world is the Mongolian Sumo wrestler Kyokutenho N.Tsevegnyam who won this season’s tournament on the 20th anniversary of the first Mongolian wrestler to start competing for the Japanese Professional Sumo Wrestling. He came with Harumafuji Byambadorj, Tokitenku Khuchitbaatar on the 23rd because he was attending the closing ceremony where he received the Emperor’s cup from the head of the Japan Sumo Association, Kitanoumi. It was said that he would not come to Mongolia, but upon hearing that the Ikh Mongoliin Altan Odod show was delayed by a day he decided to come to Mongolia. The sumo wrestler will return to Japan today because he is to attend an event in Japan on 26th. The sumo wrestlers lead by the Yokozana Hakuho awarded the winners of the Youth Sumo Competition named after the Yokozana Hakuho. 

Kakuryu Anand: I don’t feel pressured by the Ozeki title During the press conference Kakuryu who received the Ozeki title recently answered some questions.

-What was it like receiving the Ozeki title?

-It was difficult at first to get used to the title but I am getting used to it. I didn’t perform as well in Natsu Basho but I will work hard in the future.

-Do you feel any pressure wrestling under the Ozeki title?

-No. I don’t feel any pressure or psychological hardship at present.

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