Kazakhstani wrestler takes third place at the Emperor's Cup in sumo in Tokyo

Kazakhstani wrestler Ersin Baltagul, competing under the name Kinbozan Haruki, achieved historic success at the Emperor's Cup in Tokyo, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

Kazakhstani wrestler takes third place at the Emperor's Cup in sumo in Tokyo
Photo credit: Kyodo

Ersin Baltagul took third place with a record of 12 wins and 3 losses. This result became the best achievement for a Kazakhstani sumo wrestler at elite makuuchi division championship.

Until the final day of the tournament, the Kazakhstani wrestler still had a chance to claim the Emperor's Cup. To do so, Kinbozan had to defeat the Japanese wrestler Oho Konosuke in the decisive match. However, the Japanese sumo wrestler proved stronger, denying the Kazakhstani the opportunity to become the champion outright.

After the 15 mandatory bouts, three wrestlers topped the tournament standings: Kinbozan Haruki, Oho Konosuke, and Mongolian sumo wrestler Hoshoryu Tomokatsu. All three finished the championship with an identical record of 12 wins. To determine the winner, the judges arranged additional matches.

In the first of the extra bouts, Kinbozan faced Oho again, but the Japanese wrestler triumphed again. The final victory in the tournament went to the Mongolian wrestler Hoshoryu.

Ersin Baltagul was born in Almaty and has been practicing judo and Kazakh wrestling (kures) since childhood. On the advice of the renowned Mongolian wrestler Asashoryu Akinori, he moved to Japan, where he began his professional sumo career.

Earlier, Kazinform News Agency reported that Kazakhstan won bronze at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary.

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