Georgian sumo wrestler Tochinoshin wins historic Emperor’s Cup title

Georgian wrestler Levan Gorgadze has claimed the champion’s title of the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament today, becoming the first Georgian athlete to win the Emperor’s Cup.

The significance of the victory was underlined by a tweet from Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili in support of the wrestler today:

Congratulations @tochinoshin! Georgian #Sumo wrestler Levan Gorgadze is the winner of Emeperor’s Cup! #GrandSumo#HatsuBasho#Tokyopic.twitter.com/oP63FyRlPh

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) January 27, 2018

President Giorgi Margvelashvili also congratulated the athlete with the international success.

Proud to congratulate Levan Gorgadze, the first Georgian and third European wrestler to ever win the Emperor's cup in #GrandSumo#Tochinoshinpic.twitter.com/JZKOlx4Z7K

— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) January 27, 2018

Gorgadze, known in the sumo community as Tochinoshin, has competed in 71 professional sumo tournaments since 2006. He has won three Juryo Division Championships and two Makushita Division Championships.

You can watch a video clip of Gorgadze’s victory below:

Statistics on 30-year-old Tochinoshin’s athletic performances can be viewed here.

Running from January 14-28, the Grand Sumo Tournament will come to a close on Sunday.