Tokitenkū Yoshiaki

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 時天空 慶晃 Tokitenkū Yoshiaki


birthname = Altangadasny Khüchitbaatar
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|09|10
placeofbirth = Mongolia
height = height|meters=1.86
weight = convert|149|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Tokitsukaze
rank = Maegashira 7
record = 259-224-0
debut = July 2002
highestrank = Komusubi (March 2007)
yushos = 1 (Jūryō)
1 (Sandanme)
1 (Jonidan)
1 (Jonokuchi)
prizes = Technique (1)
goldstars =
update = Sept 2008

Tokitenkū Yoshiaki (born September 10, 1979 as Altangadasny Khüchitbaatar, _mn. Алтангадасын Хүчитбаатар, in Altanbulag, Töv Province, Mongolia) is a sumo wrestler. The highest rank he has reached is "komusubi".

Career

Tokitenkū is the son of a Mongolian wrestler, who reached a rank equivalent to "komusubi" in Mongolian wrestling.

He first came to Japan in 2000 to study at Tokyo University of Agriculture. Although he took part in sumo, winning the under 100kg collegiate chamionships, he originally intended to return to Mongolia upon graduation. However, he was inspired to enter professional sumo by watching active wrestlers Asashōryū and Asasekiryū, with whom he had practised judo as a teenager in Ulaanbaatar. He joined Tokitsukaze stable just before turning 23 years of age, the upper age limit set by the Japan Sumo Association.

He began his career in July 2002, winning all of his first 22 official bouts and earning three consecutive division championships in the process. Only Itai and Tochiazuma, who each won their first 26 matches, have had a longer unbeaten run from sumo entry. He progressed to the second highest "jūryō" division in March 2004 and, just two tournaments later, to the top "makuuchi" division. It took him only 12 tournaments from his professional debut to make the top division, which is equal to the second fastest rise since six tournaments a year were introduced in 1958.

He was not able at first to maintain his "makuuchi" position, dropping back to "juryo" twice, but a result of 10-5 in November 2005 gained him the rank of "maegashira 1" as well as the technique prize. He made his "sanyaku" or titled rank debut in March 2007 at "komusubi", where he defeated "Yokozuna" Asashōryū on the opening day but missed out on another special prize by falling just short of a majority of wins, posting a 7-8 score. He returned to "komusubi" in July 2007, but again scored 7-8. He has remained at the top of the "maegashira" ranks since then, but has not managed a winning record so far in 2008.

When he began his sumo career he weighed around convert|113|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on, but he has gained weight steadily and is now about convert|150|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on, average for the top division. His favourite technique is "yori-kiri", or force out, although he also relies on pull-down techniques such as "hataki-komi" and "hiki-otoshi".

Top division record

References

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of active sumo wrestlers

External links

*Japanese Sumo Association Biography [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi_2499.html (English)] [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi_2499.html (Japanese)]
* [http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/20040701.htm complete biography and basho results (Japanese)]