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Sumo: Estonian Baruto wins juryo division title with perfect record+
[March 26, 2006]

Sumo: Estonian Baruto wins juryo division title with perfect record+


(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)OSAKA, March 26_(Kyodo) _ Estonian wrestler Baruto defeated Takanowaka at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday to become the first wrestler in 43 years to win the second-tier juryo division title with an unblemished record.



Baruto, 21, whose real name is Kaido Hoovelson, wrapped up his campaign by throwing down Takanowaka for his 15th win on the final day of the meet at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium.

Former yokozuna Kitanofuji was the last wrestler to go unbeaten throughout the tournament in the juryo division in the Kyushu meet in 1963.


Baruto is set to win promotion to sumo's elite makuuchi division when the rankings are released for the summer meet in May. Promotion would see him become the fifth European wrestler to compete in sumo's top flight.

Kokkai, who hails from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, was the first wrestler from Europe to reach the makuuchi division, in which Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu and Russian brothers Roho and Hakurozan are currently competing.

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