Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki claimed his first championship at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament by defeating yokozuna Hoshoryu in a playoff. The 21-year-old, who fled the war in Ukraine three years ago, became the first from his nation to win a top-division title. His victory paves the way for promotion to ozeki.
On the final day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, sekiwake Aonishiki defeated ozeki Kotozakura to finish at 12-3, tying yokozuna Hoshoryu. In the playoff, Aonishiki butted his head into Hoshoryu's chest, ducked under for a waist hold, and forced him down with relentless pressure.
"I'm always nervous, and I felt the tension, but I stuck with my sumo and I'm glad it worked," Aonishiki said in his televised interview. As he left the arena, he hugged a stablemate and added, "[The title] was something I was always aiming for, so I was so happy to have done it."
Yokozuna Onosato defaulted his match against Hoshoryu due to a left shoulder injury, eliminating him from contention. Aonishiki, real name Danylo Yavhusishyn, debuted professionally in September 2023 and reached sekiwake in just 13 tournaments—the fewest ever, excluding certain amateurs—without a losing record.
His 34 wins over three straight tournaments prompted the Japan Sumo Association to call a special meeting for his ozeki promotion, to be official on Wednesday. He also earned the Outstanding Performance Award and Technique Prize, his fifth consecutive tournament honor. Hoshoryu suffered two early losses and has now lost two playoffs, including to Onosato in September. Komusubi Takayasu secured kachikoshi for possible sekiwake return, while Yoshinofuji won the Technique Prize, and Kirishima and Ichiyamamoto took Fighting Spirit Prizes.
