Georgian sekiwake Tochinoshin was officially promoted to ozeki on Wednesday, marking the first time a Georgian wrestler has risen to sumo's second-highest rank.
The Japan Sumo Association held a meeting to determine the rankings for the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, and a board meeting, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo and unanimously approved the promotion.
The association sent director Dewanoumi, the former maegashira Oginohana, as an emissary to the Kasugano stable to which Tochinoshin belongs in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. Dewanoumi conveyed the news of the promotion to Tochinoshin, 30, and his stablemaster Kasugano, the former sekiwake Tochinowaka. Tochinoshin's real name is Levan Gorgadze.
"Following my stablemaster's teachings, I will work hard to become a role model for sumo wrestlers," Tochinoshin said.
He previously slipped to the third-tier makushita division because of a severe injury to his right knee ligament, suffered during the Nagoya tournament in 2013. But Tochinoshin made a comeback with his powerful "yotsu-zumo" style, which focuses on gripping the opponent's belt, and won his first title at this year's New Year Grand Sumo Tournament as a hiramaku, or rank-and-file makuuchi wrestler. It took 60 tournaments for Tochinoshin to be promoted to ozeki after entering the top makuuchi sumo division, matching Masuiyama II's record for the slowest promotion to ozeki.
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