Ukrainian sumo wrestler makes history in Japan

Sunday, 23 November 2025 15:50

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."

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

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.

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.

Sky News

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