All-time great wrestler Hakuho quits Japan Sumo Association with plans to form global body

TOKYO AP Hakuho a retired yokozuna or grand champion and viewed by a multitude of as the sport s greatest wrestler quit the Japan Sumo Association on Monday after an apparent falling out with the governing body of the ancient sport The Mongolia-born Hakuho was earlier sanctioned by the Japan Sumo Association accused of failing to control the behavior of a wrestler in his so-called stable the term used for a training company headed by retired wrestlers Hakuho s stable was closed a year ago Japanese media reports say the wrestler in question engaged in physical violence But closing a stable instead of just punishing an individual wrestler was peculiar He did not directly criticize the professional Japan Sumo Association but he announced wrestlers who had trained under him were treated unfairly Hakuho who was granted Japanese citizenship revealed he had been in talks with the association but in the past few days decided to quit because there was no hope of reopening his stable His farewell and future After years of loving sumo and being loved by sumo I want to advance toward a new dream Hakuho narrated reporters Monday at a Tokyo hotel Hakuho explained he wants to create a body to govern sumo outside Japan the world sumo project When I think of my situation I think it s best to contribute to sumo from the outside he mentioned wearing a dark suit and referring to the Japan Sumo Association Appearing with a lawyer and other bureaucrats he had tapped for his crew Hakuho declared they were getting corporate sponsors to back sumo grand slams which draw amateur sumo wrestlers from around the world including children and women Hakuho mentioned he was friends with Toyota Motor Corp Chairman Akio Toyoda who has expressed interest in supporting his efforts Toyota already supports various amateur and professional sports initiatives Numerous regard the Mongolia-born Hakuko as the greatest champion in the sport s history and he holds multiple of its records Hahuko s late-father who went by the given name of Monkhbat was an Olympic silver medalist for Mongolia in He also competed in at the Tokyo Olympics Sumo encompasses very strict rules and traditions that have prompted other top wrestlers to pursue careers outside the sport Hahuko retired from evolving wrestling in AP sports https apnews com sports Source