Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion and one of the most successful sumo fighters in history. His real name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu is his fighting name. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s top position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non-Japanese ever to enter the sumo ring.
Asashoryu grew up with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as an exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through the ranks.
Asashoryu grew up with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as an exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through the ranks.
Asashoryu could well become the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in on the all-time greats for the number of championships won. He holds the record for winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he won an impressive 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament of 2004 meant he won seven in a row – another record.Asashoryu has a huge following, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people love him because he goes against the grain, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in history to be suspended from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Regardless, he continues to create a lot of interest in the sport.
1980 - Born on the 27th of September in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
1999 - Asashoryu made his debut in January.
2000 - He reached sekitori status in September by winning promotion to the juryo division.
2001 - He reached the top makuuchi division just two tournaments later in January.
2001 - In May, he made his sanyaku debut at komusubi rank and earned his first sansho award, for Outstanding Performance.
2002 - He put together back to back records of 11-4, 11-4 and 12-3 and was promoted to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki.
- In November, he took his first top division tournament championship with a 14-1 record.
2003 - In January, he won his second straight championship and on the 30th of January, Asashoryu was granted the title of yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo.
2004 - Asashoryu began with one of the highlights of his career to date two consecutive perfect 15-0 tournament wins in January and March with a streak of 35 unbeaten bouts in total.
2005 - He continued to dominate Sumo, winning all six honbasho and losing only six bouts all year.
2006 - Asashoryu's consecutive basho streak came to an end in January, when ozeki Tochiazuma took the first tournament championship of the year.
2007 - In January, Asashoryu posted a 14-1 record, capturing his 20th career title, and fourth straight since returning from injury.
