SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo Chris Gould Chris sinks his teeth into how sumo can go about pulling in the younger fans - currently so noticeable by their absence. The first of a three-part series. Sumo World Championships Mark Buckton Mark Buckton reports from Sakai near Osaka, site of the latest Sumo World Championships. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda finishes off his look at former yokozuna Minanogawa. Sumo 101 / Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric expains sumo fan terminology - with the inevitable twist - for those just getting into the sport and still subject to the know it alls. Age stands still for no man Joe Kuroda Former ozeki Kiyokuni will retire in November under the compulsory '65 and you are out' rule. JK takes a look at this quiet earth mover. Feel the Sumo Eduardo de Paz Read and feel the renowned Leonishiki's passion for all things sumo at his first live event. SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews Colin Carroll - again - Irish star of Sakai. Photo Bonanza See the Aki Basho bonanza as well as the largest collection of pics you are likely to see on the Sumo World Championships earlier in October. Aki Basho Summary   Lon Howard Lon wraps the September Aki Basho and throws in some henka sighting results for good measure. Lower Division Rikishi   Mikko Mattila The lower divisions, their members and results get the once over thanks to Mikko's eye of things 'beneath the curtain'. Kyushu Ones To Watch   Carolyn Todd Carolyn shares her thoughts on whom to keep an eye on in Fukuoka. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest clarification of several of the sport's plethora of kimarite. Amateur Angles   Howard Gilbert Howard Gilbert - manager of New Zealand's amateur sumo team takes a look at the approaching Russians. Kokugi Konnections   Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online. Fan Debate   Facilitator - Lon Howard Jesse Lake and Rich Pardoe hammer out their differences on a current furor - promotion criteria. SFM Cartoons    Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and enjoy Benny Loh's offerings and put a caption to Stephen Thompson's picture to win yourselves a banzuke. Sumo Odds ’n’ Ends    SFM's interactive elements including Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Lets Hear From You   What was it that made you a sumo fan? Kevin Murphy reveals all. Readers' Letters   See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens. Sumo Quiz    The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

Middleweight (-100kg, -220 lbs) 1. Takashi Shimako (Japan) 2. Madis Sihimets (Estonia) 3. Khayaa Tyulyush (Russia) and Artiom Pocinoc (Moldova). Heavyweight (+100kg, +220 lbs) 1. Masahiro Yamaguchi (Japan) 2. Visesio Sakalia (New-Zealand) 3. Rokas Adomaitis (Lithuania) and Vladimir Petrov (Russia) Open Weight 1. Takayuki Sakuma (Japan) 2. Soslan Kobesov (Russia) 3. Mark Tanu (New-Zealand) and Sandagdorj Bold (Mongolia) Team 1. Japan 2. Poland 3. Ukraine and Russia The other major tournament in Europe was held just a week later in the eastern German town of Riesa. The 12th European Championships were held over two days, with the open weight competitions and the team competitions for both men and women held on the Sunday and the other divisions on the Saturday. Unlike the world championships, the European Championships allows more than one competitor from each country in each weight class, and all competitors may compete in the open weight division. As such, Russia (in addition to winning both teams competitions) won 12 of the 32 individual medals available. The split was six  apiece between the men and the women, but the women’s’ haul of  four gold and two silver surpassed the men’s two gold, one silver, and three bronze. Most of the names of the medal winners, Russian or not, were familiar from previous victory lists

at other European and World Championships. What was notable, however, were the names of athletes who had been part of the “rebel” World Sumo League (WSL) tournaments in the United States. This was the subject of my last column, and it was confirmed that the International Sumo Federation would not allow these athletes to compete in Osaka. However, many countries in Europe supported the opportunities that the WSL provided for their athletes and so, there was no ban from competing in European Sumo Union events. So, while athletes such as Petar Stoyanov (heavyweight gold and open weight bronze) and Stilian Georgiev (lightweight bronze), both Bulgarians, and Germans Jorg Brummer and Torsten Scheibler appeared on the dais in Riesa, they were not eligible for Osaka. Just how long this ban remains in place, or whether it is a lifetime ban, has not been made public and may not have been decided by the upper echelons of the IFS. It may be a case of waiting until next year to see, and I’m sure a lot of water will pass under the bridge before then!! 12th European Sumo World Championships Results Women Lightweight (-65kg, -143 lbs) 1. Nelli Vorobieva (Russia) 2. Ewelina Lasecka (Poland) 3. Paola Boz (Italy) and Claudia de Graauw (Netherlands) Middleweight (-80kg, -176 lbs) 1. Svetlana Panteleeva (Russia) 2. Nadeshda Sementzova (Ukraine) 3. Nicole Hehemann (Germany) and Dariya Ibragimova (Ukraine)

Heavyweight (+80kg, +176 lbs) 1. Olessya Kovalenko (Russia) 2. Ekaterina Keyb (Russia) 3. Edyta Witowska (Poland) and Olga Davydko (Ukraine) Open Weight 1. Anna Zhigalova (Russia) 2. Olessya Kovalenko (Russia) 3. Sandra Köppen (Germany) and Olga Davydko (Ukraine) Team 1. Russia 2. Ukraine 3. Bulgaria and Germany Men Lightweight (-85 kg, -187 lbs) 1. Peer Schmidt-Düwiger (Germany) 2. Igor Kurrinoy (Russia) 3. Kann-Demir Kuular (Russia) and Stilian Georgiev (Bulgaria) Middleweight (-115 kg, -254 lbs) 1. Alan Bibilov (Russia) 2. Istvan Kalmar (Hungary) 3. David Tsallagov (Russia) and Todor Dzhurov (Bulgaria) Heavyweight (+115 kg, +254 lbs) 1. Petar Stoyanov (Bulgaria) 2. Haitham Alsadi (Netherlands) 3. Dezsö Libor (Hungary) and Alan Gabaraev (Russia) Open Weight 1. Alan Karaev (Russia) 2. Robert Paczkow (Poland) 3. Dezsö Libor (Hungary) and Petar Stoyanov (Bulgaria) Team 1. Russia 2. Bulgaria 3. Netherlands and Poland Home