In a groundbreaking achievement, Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki Arata has become the first from his country to secure an elite-level sumo championship. The historic victory came on Sunday during the Kyushu tournament in western Japan, where Aonishiki triumphed over Hoshoryu, a top-ranked Mongolian wrestler, in the decisive match. Hoshoryu, alongside Japan-born Onosato, is one of the most prominent figures in Japan’s national sport. Aonishiki, born Danilo Yavhushyshyn, left Ukraine over three and a half years ago following Russia’s full-scale invasion. At just 21 years old, he has rapidly ascended the ranks in the sumo world. His journey to Japan began in 2019 after forming a friendship with a Japanese wrestler during a tournament. Aonishiki’s success adds to the legacy of non-Japanese sumo wrestlers, including Mongolians and Hawaiians, who have excelled in the sport. Ukraine, known for its strong Olympic wrestling tradition, last celebrated a gold medal with Zhan Beleniuk in Greco-Roman wrestling at the delayed Tokyo 2021 Games.
Ukraine-born sumo wrestler Aonishiki is the first from his country to win a top championship
