Georgian sumo wrestler Tochinoshin retires from sport after 17 years, five titles
In 2018 Tochinoshin, who claimed the title of the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament and became the first Georgian athlete to win the Emperor’s Cup, was awarded with Georgia’s prestigious state Order of Honour for promoting the country abroad. Photo: Sofia Chakvetadze/Facebook
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Georgian sumo wrestler Levan Gorgadze, known in the sport’s community as Tochinoshin, has retired after his defeat in the East Juryo competition in Japan on Thursday, bringing to a close a career that spanned 17 years and included five titles.
Tochinoshin was defeated in the second division of this month’s competition by Shimazuumi, with the result coming on day five of the contest and prompting the athlete to reveal his retirement, the Georgian media said on Thursday.
Born in Georgia’s central-eastern city of Mtskheta, Tochinoshin entered 74 professional sumo tournaments and scored 27 wins since his debut in March 2006. Over the 17 years on the rink, he won three Juryo Division Championships and two Makushita Division titles.
Photo: Kyodonews.net
He has eleven special prizes, six for fighting spirit, three for technique, and two for outstanding performance, as well as two kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna.
The athlete welcomed in Georgia by his supporters. Photo: Georgia’s Culture and Sports ministry press office
In 2018 Tochinoshin, who claimed the title of the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament and became the first Georgian athlete to win the Emperor’s Cup, was awarded with Georgia’s prestigious state Order of Honour for promoting the country abroad.
He also received the top title of the Knight of Sports of Georgia after his promotion to the rank of ozeki that year.
The full statistics of the 35-year-old’s performances and awards can be viewed on his profile page here.