Asashōryū Akinori
| Asashōryū Akinori | |
|---|---|
| 朝青龍 明徳 | |
 |
|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj 27 September 1980 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 148 kg (326 lb; 23.3 st) |
| Web presence | website |
| Career | |
| Stable | Takasago |
| Record | 669–173–76 |
| Debut | January 1999 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (January 2003) |
| Retired | 6 February 2010 |
| Championships | 25 (Makuuchi) 1 (Makushita) 1 (Sandanme) 1 (Jonidan) |
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance (3) Fighting Spirit (3) |
| Gold Stars | 1 (Musashimaru) |
| * Up to date as of February 2015. | |
Asashōryū Akinori (朝青龍 明徳?, born 27 September 1980, as Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj, Mongolian Cyrillic: Долгорсүрэнгийн Дагвадорж) is a Mongolian former sumo wrestler (rikishi). He was the 68th yokozuna in the history of the sport in Japan and became the first Mongol to reach sumo's highest rank in January 2003. He was one of the most successful yokozuna ever. In 2005, he became the first wrestler to win all six official tournaments (honbasho) in a single year. Over his entire career, he won 25 top division tournament championships, placing him fourth on the all-time list.
From 2004 until 2007, Asashōryū was sumo's sole yokozuna, and was criticized at times by the media and the Japan Sumo Association for not upholding the standards of behaviour expected of a holder of such a prestigious rank. He became the first yokozuna in history to be suspended from competition in August 2007 when he participated in a charity soccer match in his home country despite having withdrawn from a regional sumo tour claiming injury. After a career filled with a multitude of other controversies, both on and off the dohyō, his career was cut short when he retired from sumo in February 2010 after allegations that he assaulted a man outside a Tokyo nightclub.
Asashōryū comes from a family with a strong background in Mongolian wrestling, with his father and two of his elder brothers all achieving high ranks in the sport. He also trained in judo in Mongolia. He originally came to Japan as an exchange student, together with his friend, the future Asasekiryū, where they attended Meitoku Gijuku High School in Kōchi Prefecture. They both trained together at the sumo club there.
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