Mongolian Hakuho smashes sumo record with 1,048th win

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.”

Mongolian sumo wrestler Hakuho 

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.