Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler Glorified in Japan
March 2, 2005, Wednesday // 12:00
Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlyanov, dubbed Kotooshu (back), became the first European to join the sanyaki ranks. Japan has called him “Bulgaria's most famous export after yoghurt.” Photo by japan-sumo.ru
Japan's sumo elite have turned their eyes on Bulgarian Kaloyan Mahlyanov, after this week he became the first European to join the sanyaki ranks.
His rise to sanyaku is one of the quickest since sumo switched to a six-tournament system in 1958, Japanese media said.
Leading media channels have praised the 22-year-old wrestler, with The Daily Yomiuri even calling him "Bulgaria's most famous export after yoghurt."
The new ranking means that Mahlyanov, dubbed Kotooshu, will soon come to grips will sumo's big guns.
"His progress has been overwhelmingly smooth," stablemaster Sadogatake was cited as saying. "His promotion is the result of honest, hard work, and the important thing now is what happens from here."
His rise to sanyaku is one of the quickest since sumo switched to a six-tournament system in 1958, Japanese media said.
Leading media channels have praised the 22-year-old wrestler, with The Daily Yomiuri even calling him "Bulgaria's most famous export after yoghurt."
The new ranking means that Mahlyanov, dubbed Kotooshu, will soon come to grips will sumo's big guns.
"His progress has been overwhelmingly smooth," stablemaster Sadogatake was cited as saying. "His promotion is the result of honest, hard work, and the important thing now is what happens from here."
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