A Ukrainian sumo wrestler who left his homeland after Russia’s full-scale invasion has made history in Japan.
Danylo Yavhusishyn, also known by his ring name of Aonishiki Arata, has become the first competitor from his country to win an elite-level tournament.
He defeated Hoshoryu Tomokatsu, a top-ranked Mongolian wrestler.
Yavhusishyn was asked in his winning ceremony interview if was pleased with his results in sumo.
“No, I think this is just the beginning,” he said.
Yavhusishyn left Ukraine as a teenager in 2022 after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of his country.
Speaking at a news conference last month, he said: “I hope that people from Ukraine will be able to see my sumo, and have some kind of encouragement from that.”
One killed and 170 homes damaged or destroyed as fire burns in Japan
Japan sends in troops to help tackle deadly bear attacks
The 40 million Americans without food because of the government shutdown
Yavhusishyn, 21, won the deciding match in the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Sunday, and he received the Prime Minister’s Cup from Takahiro Inoue, an adviser to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
He had decided to travel to Japan following the Russian invasion after striking up a friendship with a Japanese wrestler at a tournament in 2019.
Read more from Sky News:
Fierce battle for key Ukrainian towns
Peace plan ‘not final offer’ – Trump
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Ukraine has a strong Olympic wrestling tradition. Zhan Beleniuk won a gold medal in the Greco-Roman category at the 2020 Tokyo Games, staged in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.
The stars of sumo descended on London’s Royal Albert Hall last month for a major tournament.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
It was only the second time a Grand Tournament had been held outside of Japan in the sport’s long history.
The five-day tournament was won by 26-year-old Hoshoryu.
