Estonian Anatoli Zadorozhny joins Japan’s professional sumo — ERR News
Estonian sumo wrestler Anatoli Zadorozhny has officially joined the professional sumo league in Japan. The Estonian Sumo Association reported this, ERR News writes.
Debut in the lowest division
Zadorozhny passed a Japanese-language exam, and his first tournament is due to take place in November. He will begin competing in the lowest division of professional sumo, jonokuchi. His ring name will be chosen by his coach.
There are six divisions in professional sumo. The highest is makuuchi, followed by juryo, makushita, sandanme, jonidan and jonokuchi. This year’s Kyushu Basho tournament will run from November 8 to 22. Overall, six major sumo tournaments are held in Japan each year.
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Hidenoyama stable
Last summer, the athlete joined the Hidenoyama stable, which ERR News calls the newest in Japan. It is run by former sumo wrestler Kotoshogiku, a former opponent of renowned Estonian wrestler Baruto, Kaido Höövelson. Höövelson also reached the rank of ozeki.
Zadorozhny was born in Tallinn in 2006 and became Estonia’s sumo champion five times. In Estonia, he trained at the Eesti Karud club, which Kaido Höövelson runs together with his sister Tiina and half-brother Meelis. In addition to sumo, Zadorozhny also practiced judo and Greco-Roman wrestling.
