Who is sumo champion

France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Sumo's greatest-ever champion Hakuho has decided to retire over persistent knee trouble, Japanese media reported Monday, leaving a gaping hole at the top of the ancient sport. The Mongolian-born year-old has won a record 45 tournaments -- 13 more than anyone else in history -- but has been sidelined by injury for most of the year.

He made his only appearance of at July's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, going unbeaten to win the title after missing all or part of the previous six competitions. He and 17 other wrestlers from his stable were forced to miss the next tournament, which ended Sunday, after a coronavirus outbreak.

Local media said that Hakuho has decided to retire because of a right knee injury, bringing the curtain down on his illustrious career after 1, wins. With 1, career wins and 1, makuuchi division victories, Hakuho's career was filled with records and defining moments. The 69th yokozuna in the ancient sport's history, Hakuho, whose birth name is Monkhbatyn Davaajargal, debuted in the spring of and won his first top-division title at the summer meet in May , when he first fought at the second-highest rank of ozeki.

Born in Ulaanbaatar, he was immersed in the Mongolian wrestling tradition from childhood. His father Jigjidiin Monkhbat competed in freestyle wrestling for Mongolia and won a silver medal at the Mexico City Olympics. Standing 1. His fierce rivalry with fellow Mongolian-born grand champion Asashoryu captivated sumo fans until the latter's retirement in February left Hakuho as the only active yokozuna and the dominant force in the sport.

He won 63 consecutive bouts through November , tying for the second-most all time. In January , he became only the third wrestler, after former yokozuna Taiho and Asashoryu, to win six consecutive grand tournaments. He claimed the all-time championship record with his 33rd career Emperor's Cup in January , breaking the previous mark set by Taiho. Despite his outstanding contributions inside the dohyo, Hakuho at times earned the disapproval of sumo authorities for not adhering to the sport's strict protocols.

After winning the March tournament, the last during Japan's Heisei era, he led the audience in an impromptu "tejime" clapping ceremony to mark the end of the era.

With ceremonies to formally conclude the tournament not completed, it was seen as a serious breach of etiquette, prompting a rebuke from the JSA and subsequent apology from the wrestler and his stablemaster. During the final years of his career, his time in the ring was interrupted by injury and the coronavirus pandemic. He was reprimanded over his repeated absences by the JSA in November and was still subject to a warning when he returned to the ring in July following surgery to his troublesome right knee.

His retirement leaves recently promoted Mongolian-born yokozuna Terunofuji, winner of the just-concluded Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, as the only competing grand champion. He has said that training wrestlers would be a way of showing his gratitude to the sport.

Japan's top sumo wrestler infected with coronavirus. Sumo wrestler dies one month after concussion. Image source, Reuters. He has recorded more wins, titles and perfect championships than any other sumo wrestler. You may also be interested in:. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.