Kyokutenzan Takeshi

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 旭天山 武 Kyokutenzan Takeshi
realname = Batmönkhiin Enkhbat
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1973|8|4
placeofbirth = Ulan-Bator, Mongolia
height = height|meters=1.89
weight = convert|102|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Ōshima
rank =
record = 337-321-0
debut = March, 1992
highestrank = Makushita 13 (July, 2004)
retireddate = November, 2007
update = November 2007

Kyokutenzan Takeshi (born August 4, 1973 as Batmönkhiin Enkhbat, _mn. Батмөнхийн Энхбат) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia, one of the first Mongolians to join the sport in Japan. In 2005, he obtained Japanese citizenship, but he has now moved to Germany to run a business.

Career

Kyokutenzan joined sumo in March 1992 at the same time as his more famous Mongolian colleagues Kyokushūzan and Kyokutenhō, but unlike them he never reached sekitori status. He served as a tsukebito, or personal attendant, to Kyokutenhō. During his early days in sumo, when five of the six Mongolians in Oshima stable ran away and sought refuge in the Mongolian embassy, Kyokutenzan was the only one who remained, and he persuaded his countrymen to return.

During the January 2007 tournament Kyokutenzan attracted criticism over the amount of time he was spending in the two dressing rooms in which the wrestlers prepare for their bouts. He was interviewed by the Japan Sumo Association as part of their investigation of alleged match-fixing involving Yokozuna Asashōryū.cite web | author= McCurry, Justin| title=Sumo king enters ring of fire| publisher=The Guardian|language=English|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/2007/01/30/sumo_king_enters_ring_of_fire.html| date=2007-01-30 | accessdate=2007-06-05] Kyokutenzan responded by saying he was just giving advice to Mongolian junior wrestlers, declaring, "I have never known of any match-fixing."

Kyokutenzan retired from professional sumo at the end of the 2007 Kyushu basho. His retirement ceremony was held in December with Hakuho and Asashoryu amongst the attendees as well as Kyokushuzan and Kyokutenho. [ [http://www.webtrek.com/pipermail/sumo/2007-December/012270.html [sumo Kyokutenzan's dampatsu (and nostalgia) ] ] Kyuokutenzan moved to Germany with his wife, who he had married in July 2007, to start a business. [ [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8T4ML8O0&show_article=1 Sumo: Kyokutenzan hangs up mawashi, to become businessman ] ] His first child, a girl, was born in May 2008.

References

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers

External links

* [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi.php?A=1155 Japan Sumo Association Biography]