Sumo’s greatest champion to retire
SportsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Embassy of Mongolia in Japan
yesterday reported Mongolian-born sumo champion Hakuho M.Davaajargal’s decision
to retire from the sport.
After having knee injury in March of last year, Hakuho missed
six tournaments in a row. But he made an outstanding comeback in July, claiming
his 45th Emperor’s Cup with a perfect 15-0 record.
“At this age, I did not think I would win the tournament
with a perfect record. I am just relieved”, he said in an interview following
the tournament.
Unfortunately, he missed spring tournament due to multiple
coronavirus infections in the stable which he belongs to.
Starting his professional sumo wrestler career in 15, he climbed
to yokozuna, the sport’s highest rank aged 22.
36-year-old yokozuna is leaving the sport as its
longest-serving yokozuna. Winning his 1000th bout in 2016, he extended his
career wins to 1187. He is also the only person ever to claim 86 victories in
one year twice.
His retirement is leaving fellow Mongolian-born yokozuna Terunofuji G.Gan-Erdene as the only active yokozuna.