Yokozuna Hakuho

Earlier this week, Mongolian wrestler Hakuho was promoted to yokozuna, the highest ranking in the sport of sumo. Here’s a video recorded from the live broadcast of his acceptance of the title:

Born Monkhbat Davaajargal, the 22-year-old becomes the third-youngest wrestler to become a yokozuna. Two Japanese had earned the rank, both years ago, when they were 21 years old. Depending mainly on a powerful belt-gripping wrestling style, Hakuho is the fourth foreign grand champion, following in the paths of Hawaii native Akebono, Samoan-born Musashimaru and Asashoryu.

Hakuho, 192 cm tall and weighing 155 kg, made his debut in professional sumo in March 2001 and has taken 38 tournaments to reach the yokozuna rank ・the third quickest in sumo history. Asashoryu holds the record of earning yokozuna promotion after only 25 tournaments.
Hakuho’s parents ・his father Munkhbat Jigjid won a freestyle wrestling silver medal at the Mexico Olympic – arrived in Japan to celebrate with their successful son. It was also the first time they met his Japanese wife and their baby girl.

About a dozen of Hakuho’s relatives flew in from Mongolia for the ceremony, but Jigjid Munkhbat (Hakuho’s father), who appears in the video wearing traditional Mongolian clothing, stands out the most. Jigjid Munkhbat represented Mongolia in international wrestling competitions as a young man, winning a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1968 Olympics. The Mongolian government awarded him for his impressive feats, and it shows in the form of the many soviet-style medals he was wearing in the video. Very cool.