Foreign sumo wrestler attacks photographers

Russian sumo wrestler Roho seems to have gotten himself into a bit of trouble:

NAGOYA — Russian Roho is in hot water for attacking two photographers after losing his temper following a defeat to ozeki Chiyotaikai on Saturday. Roho, a No. 3 maegashira, was shoved into the ringside seats by the ozeki in the day’s penultimate bout. Both wrestlers exchanged words and glared at each other after the match was over. Still angry, Roho smashed a glass window on his way back to the dressing room and after receiving a reprimand from the Japan Sumo Association judging committee, proceeded to slap two photographers who were waiting on him.

Exactly what triggered the exchange is unclear but both Roho and Chiyotaikai received warnings from JSA Chairman Kitanoumi. “I did a really inexcusable thing. Both of us got hot. I went to apologize to the chairman after the bout,” Chiyotaikai said. [Kyodo News]

A foreign wrestler getting pissed off, smashing a glass window and attacking photographers? This definately is not goingto help Roho’s chances of being promoted to a higher rank any time soon.

Somebody has uploaded a clip of of Roho and Chiyotaikai’s smack-talking to YouTube. [Watch it here!]

Update: From The Hindu, which reports on sumo for some reason:

The JSA ordered Roho, an upper division wrestler ranked three slots below the sport’s topmost tiers, to sit out three bouts starting Monday for his actions, association spokesman Takahiro Ishii said.

The incident took place after Roho’s bout on Saturday with ozeki Chiyotaikai. The pair glared at one another and exchanged words after the ozeki forced the Russian grappler out of the ring with a move that sent both wrestlers tumbling into the seats

Following the match, Roho slapped a pair of newspaper photographers in the dressing room, Ishii said.

JSA Chairman Kitanoumi had already warned both wrestlers over their conduct on the ring Saturday evening, Ishii said. Sunday’s punishment is solely for the assault, he added.