Mongolian sumo wrestler Hakuho on Friday smashed the record for most career wins in Japan's national sport as the "yokozuna", or grand champion, took down Takayasu in a frenetic bout to deafening cheers at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
With his 1,048th win, Hakuho surpassed former wrestler Kaio's record, in place since 2011.
The 32-year-old Mongolian - who was so small when he arrived in Japan at age 15 only a minor sumo "stable" would take him in - also holds the record for the most number of tournament wins.
"I'm glad that I was able to show this victory to the fans," the 6ft 3ins wrestler said, struggling to catch his breath after the historic win against his "ozeki"-ranked rival.
"If you put something into words, then it can come true. But you can also say my practice before this tournament and my body's condition led to this result."
The historic win came just 16 years after Hakuho's debut, versus the 23 years it took for the previous record holder.
Hakuho's success comes as foreign wrestlers increasingly dominate Japan's 15-century-old sport.
Three of the four wrestlers in the sport's top yokozuna rank are Mongolian. The fourth, Kisenosato, became the first home-grown grand champion in nearly two decades when he was promoted earlier in January.
Despite the prevalence of non-native "rikishi", or wrestlers, the sumo association forbids foreign nationals from becoming sumo master, or "oyakata" - a title that successful wrestlers often seek after they retire.
Several local media reported on Friday that Hakuho plans to attain Japanese citizenship "in the near future" so he can be oyakata one day - a move that could stir controversy in his native Mongolia.
Hakuho's father is regarded as a national hero as the country's first Olympic medallist, when he won silver for wrestling in 1968.
Hakuho was rumoured to be seeking an exception to the nationality rule given his achievements in the sport, while the sumo association has repeatedly said it would not change the rule.
Six former rikishi have given up their original nationalities to become oyakata, since Japan does not allow adults to hold dual citizenship.
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Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
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UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
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- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
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Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
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Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
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Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
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