Aonishiki: Ukraine sumo prodigy becomes champion in Japan - BBC Sport

Aonishiki wins the November sumo tournament in Japan and becomes the first person from Ukraine to claim an elite-level sumo championship.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, Aonishiki first tried sumo aged seven

A Ukrainian refugee has become the first person from his country to win an elite-level sumo tournament.

Danylo Yavhusishyn - known by his sumo ring name Aonishiki - arrived in Japan as an 18-year-old in 2022 after the Russian invasion of his country.

Now aged 21, he is the first Ukrainian to claim the prized Emperor's Cup and the first European in almost eight years to do so.

He is now on the verge of being promoted to the second-highest rank of Ozeki, in what would be the fastest promotion in history.