Mongolian sumo wrestler appointed grand champion

Mongolians have dominated sumo for the past 25 years.

Since the turn of the century, six of the seven wrestlers promoted to yokozuna hailed from the Asian country.

Japan’s only new champion during that period, Kisenosato, held the rank for less than two years.

“Mongolians do so well because their national wrestling style, Bokh, is very similar,” Rob Ó Néill, president of the British Sumo Federation, told the BBC.

In Bokh, fighters rely on leg sweeps, which are legal in sumo but were uncommon until the wave of Mongolian fighters turned professional.

“It was like a kickboxer fighting a boxer,” Mr Ó Néill said.

Although the Japanese fighters have improved at defending these moves, they are a fundamental part of the Mongolian fighting philosophy in a way they are not in Japan.

Sumo is a highly traditional sport that takes time to adjust.

Another reason behind the success of the Mongolians is that they start wrestling from a very young age.

“They’re also absolutely huge guys,” Mr Ó Néill added.

Unlike other combat sports, professional sumo does not have weight categories.