2007 USA Sumo Open
by Alisdair Davey
In
both professional and amateur sumo, Mongolians currently rule the
roost. In Japan it is yokozuna Asashoryu and in amateur sumo, it is the
current world champion, Byambajav Ulambayar (formerly Daishochi).
Organized by the California Sumo Association (http://www.usasumo.com),
the 7th Annual U.S. Sumo Open took place in Los Angeles, California,
USA on Saturday, April 7th 2007; and once again, Ulambayar (“Byamba”)
proved too strong for the competition, winning both the men’s
heavyweight and openweight divisions.
The US Sumo Open has grown in stature over the years, and though the sumo may be amateur, the sponsorship of companies such as TV Japan, Sapporo and Hakutsuru Sake, as well as the support of the Consulate General of Japan and the Los Angeles Mongolian Association testify to its place in the world of amateur sumo competitions.
Staged at the Los Angeles Sports Arena before an enthusiastic crowd, this year’s event was again a truly multinational affair that featured rikishi from many countries, including the USA, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Norway and Italy.
Amateur sumo rules differ from the professional in several respects, including the use of weight classes. Wrestlers are allowed to wear clothing underneath their mawashi and each bout is started on the referee’s command. Very importantly, amateur sumo is a sport in which women compete and excel.
In men’s lightweight, Munkhjargal Ulziibayar (MON) provided what might be considered an upset by defeating Erdenebileg Alagdaa (MON) to win the gold. This was Alagdaa’s first defeat in 2 years of competing at the US Sumo Open. Valentin Gogov (BUL) won the bronze.
Men’s middleweight saw some of the day’s best competition with several competitors demonstrating both strength and technique. Here, Dan Kalbfleisch provided the USA’s only medal on the men’s side, winning the silver. Gold was taken by Zoljargal Ulziisaikhan (MON) and the bronze went to Fausto Gobbi of Italy. The middleweights also included Bradley Sutton of MTV's True Life: I'm A Sumo Wrestler.
Men’s heavyweight saw Byamba beat all comers. The pick of his bouts was probably against Wayne Viera (formerly Kamakiiwa) of the USA. Both are former
professionals and their bout would not have been out of place on the clay dohyo. In the final between Byamba and Petar Stoyanov, the audience was looking forward to a competitive tachiai, where Stoyanov had excelled in earlier bouts, but it turned into an anticlimax when Byamba won by henka and hatakikomi. Hans Borg, who was a clear fan favorite, won the bronze. With experience in professional wrestling, he was always eager to work the crowd, which – fueled by the atmosphere and excellent sake and beer – was more than willing to respond.
The crowd was really fired up for the men’s openweight competition, with the David and Goliath spirit to the fore. There were at least a couple of upsets worth sending the zabuton flying, if only one was to be had, of course! The 175 lb Trent Sabo (USA) of Oceanside Sumo Kyokai (http://www.oceansidesumo.com/) provided one of these, by skipping round behind an opponent to win by okuridashi. Alas, he would later run into a mighty thrust from Stoyanov, for which there does not exist a kimarite that adequately describes the speed with which he departed – and the amount of time he spent in the air while leaving – the dohyo! In the end there would be a rematch of the heavyweight final between Byamba and Stoyanov. Byamba would triumph again, this time without the aid of henka. Bayanbat Davaadalai took the openweight bronze.
The ladies’ side saw only 5 women competing, with Michelle Pike (USA – lightweight) and Florence Bannout (USA – middleweight) winning their divisions unopposed. The heavyweights saw some spirited competition, especially between Dashdalum Sambuu (MON) and Lindsay Hood (USA). In the end Sambuu was the stronger, winning the heavyweight and then the openweight competition. Lindsay Hood won silver in the heavyweight and bronze in the openweight competition, where Florence Bannout upset her to win the silver. Elizabeth Grey took the bronze in the women’s heavyweight competition. The full results are below. A more in-depth report will be provided in the June SFM issue.
USA Sumo Open 2007 Results
Men
Sumo Fan Magazine Home
The US Sumo Open has grown in stature over the years, and though the sumo may be amateur, the sponsorship of companies such as TV Japan, Sapporo and Hakutsuru Sake, as well as the support of the Consulate General of Japan and the Los Angeles Mongolian Association testify to its place in the world of amateur sumo competitions.
Staged at the Los Angeles Sports Arena before an enthusiastic crowd, this year’s event was again a truly multinational affair that featured rikishi from many countries, including the USA, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Norway and Italy.
Amateur sumo rules differ from the professional in several respects, including the use of weight classes. Wrestlers are allowed to wear clothing underneath their mawashi and each bout is started on the referee’s command. Very importantly, amateur sumo is a sport in which women compete and excel.
In men’s lightweight, Munkhjargal Ulziibayar (MON) provided what might be considered an upset by defeating Erdenebileg Alagdaa (MON) to win the gold. This was Alagdaa’s first defeat in 2 years of competing at the US Sumo Open. Valentin Gogov (BUL) won the bronze.
Men’s middleweight saw some of the day’s best competition with several competitors demonstrating both strength and technique. Here, Dan Kalbfleisch provided the USA’s only medal on the men’s side, winning the silver. Gold was taken by Zoljargal Ulziisaikhan (MON) and the bronze went to Fausto Gobbi of Italy. The middleweights also included Bradley Sutton of MTV's True Life: I'm A Sumo Wrestler.
Men’s heavyweight saw Byamba beat all comers. The pick of his bouts was probably against Wayne Viera (formerly Kamakiiwa) of the USA. Both are former
professionals and their bout would not have been out of place on the clay dohyo. In the final between Byamba and Petar Stoyanov, the audience was looking forward to a competitive tachiai, where Stoyanov had excelled in earlier bouts, but it turned into an anticlimax when Byamba won by henka and hatakikomi. Hans Borg, who was a clear fan favorite, won the bronze. With experience in professional wrestling, he was always eager to work the crowd, which – fueled by the atmosphere and excellent sake and beer – was more than willing to respond.
The crowd was really fired up for the men’s openweight competition, with the David and Goliath spirit to the fore. There were at least a couple of upsets worth sending the zabuton flying, if only one was to be had, of course! The 175 lb Trent Sabo (USA) of Oceanside Sumo Kyokai (http://www.oceansidesumo.com/) provided one of these, by skipping round behind an opponent to win by okuridashi. Alas, he would later run into a mighty thrust from Stoyanov, for which there does not exist a kimarite that adequately describes the speed with which he departed – and the amount of time he spent in the air while leaving – the dohyo! In the end there would be a rematch of the heavyweight final between Byamba and Stoyanov. Byamba would triumph again, this time without the aid of henka. Bayanbat Davaadalai took the openweight bronze.
The ladies’ side saw only 5 women competing, with Michelle Pike (USA – lightweight) and Florence Bannout (USA – middleweight) winning their divisions unopposed. The heavyweights saw some spirited competition, especially between Dashdalum Sambuu (MON) and Lindsay Hood (USA). In the end Sambuu was the stronger, winning the heavyweight and then the openweight competition. Lindsay Hood won silver in the heavyweight and bronze in the openweight competition, where Florence Bannout upset her to win the silver. Elizabeth Grey took the bronze in the women’s heavyweight competition. The full results are below. A more in-depth report will be provided in the June SFM issue.
USA Sumo Open 2007 Results
Men
| Mens Lightweight | ||
| Gold | Munkhjargal Ulziibayar |
Mongolia |
| Silver |
Erdenebileg Alagdaa |
Mongolia |
| Bronze |
Valentin Gogov | Bulgaria |
| Mens Middleweight | ||
| Gold | Zoljargal Ulziisaikhan |
Mongolia |
| Silver |
Dan Kalbfleisch | USA |
| Bronze |
Fausto Gobbi | Italy |
| Mens Heavyweight | ||
| Gold | Byambajav Ulambayar | Mongolia |
| Silver |
Petar Stoyanov | Bulgaria |
| Bronze |
Hans Borg | Norway |
| Mens Openweight | ||
| Gold | Byambajav Ulambayar | Mongolia |
| Silver |
Petar Stoyanov | Bulgaria |
| Bronze |
Bayanbat Davaadalai | Mongolia |
Women
| Womens Lightweight | ||
| Gold | Michelle Pike | USA |
| Womens Middleweight | ||
| Gold | Florence Bannout | USA |
| Womens Heavyweight | ||
| Gold | Dashdalum Sambuu | Mongolia |
| Silver |
Lindsay Hood | USA |
| Bronze |
Elizabeth Gray | USA |
| Womens Openweight | ||
| Gold | Dashdalum Sambuu | Mongolia |
| Silver |
Florence Bannout | USA |
| Bronze |
Lindsay Hood | USA |
Sumo Fan Magazine Home