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TOKYO (AP) — Kakuryu of Mongolia was promoted to yokozuna on Wednesday, becoming the sixth foreign-born wrestler to reach sumo's highest rank.
The 28-year-old Kakuryu won the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament with a 14-1 record en route to his second career title and was unanimously voted to become the 71st grand champion.
Kakuryu, whose real name is Mangaljalav Anand, joins fellow Mongolians Hakuho and Harumafuji as the three wrestlers at the top rank. Sumo has not had a Japanese grand champion since Takanohana retired in 2003.
He becomes the fourth Mongolian to reach yokozuna. Asashoryu, who retired in 2010, was the first.
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