Aonishiki’s victory at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 25–his second consecutive championship—heightened his chances of being promoted to the sport’s highest rank of yokozuna.
The 21-year-old Ukrainian-born wrestler, whose real name is Danylo Yavhusishyn, is the first in 20 years to win a debut tournament after being promoted to ozeki.
He defeated fellow ozeki Kotozakura to finish with a 12-3 record before beating maegashira No. 4 Atamifuji in a playoff to clinch the Emperor’s Cup at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.
Aonishiki, a member of the Ajigawa stable, is the ninth in sumo history to win a championship in his first tournament after attaining sumo’s second-highest rank.
The last to do so was now-retired yokozuna Hakuho in 2006.
Aonishiki also became only the second wrestler to take home back-to-back titles in debut tournaments as a sekiwake and then ozeki. He is preceded by the legendary Futabayama who was later named a yokozuna.
Original Source: This article was originally published on Asahi Sports. Click the link to view the full article.