Kyokutenzan Takeshi

Kyokutenzan Takeshi
旭天山 武
Personal information
Born Batmönkhiin Enkhbat
August 4, 1973
Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
Weight 102 kg (225 lb)
Career
Stable Ōshima
Record 337-321-0
Debut March, 1992
Highest rank Makushita 13 (July, 2004)
Retired November, 2007
* Up to date as of November 2007.

Kyokutenzan Takeshi (born August 4, 1973 as Batmönkhiin Enkhbat, Mongolian: Батмөнхийн Энхбат) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia, one of the first Mongolians to join the sport in Japan. In 2005, he obtained Japanese citizenship, but he has now moved to Germany to run a business.

Career

Kyokutenzan joined sumo in March 1992 at the same time as his more famous Mongolian colleagues Kyokushūzan and Kyokutenhō, but unlike them he never reached sekitori status. He served as a tsukebito, or personal attendant, to Kyokutenhō. During his early days in sumo, when five of the six Mongolians in Ōshima stable ran away and sought refuge in the Mongolian embassy, Kyokutenzan was the only one who remained, and he persuaded his countrymen to return.

During the January 2007 tournament Kyokutenzan attracted criticism over the amount of time he was spending in the two dressing rooms in which the wrestlers prepare for their bouts. He was interviewed by the Japan Sumo Association as part of their investigation of alleged match-fixing involving Yokozuna Asashōryū.[1] Kyokutenzan responded by saying he was just giving advice to Mongolian junior wrestlers, declaring, "I have never known of any match-fixing."[1]

Kyokutenzan retired from professional sumo at the end of the 2007 Kyushu basho. His retirement ceremony was held in December with Hakuhō and Asashōryū amongst the attendees as well as Kyokushūzan and Kyokutenhō.[2] Kyuokutenzan moved to Germany with his wife, who he had married in July 2007, to start a business.[3] His first child, a girl, was born in May 2008.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McCurry, Justin (2007-01-30). "Sumo king enters ring of fire". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  2. ↑ [sumo] Kyokutenzan's dampatsu (and nostalgia)
  3. ↑ Sumo: Kyokutenzan hangs up mawashi, to become businessman

External links