Renowned sumo wrestlers from across the world seen in action at Guwahati
Source: Mithu Choudhury *

Imphal, February 18 2012: For the first time in India, five renowned sumo wrestlers from across the world, including the reigning world champion were seen in action at Guwahati as they slugged it out for 4 consecutive evenings at the 19th International Guwahati Trade Fair (IGTF) 2012 at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre in the Guwahati city.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) , Assam and the North East region got to witness the legendary Japanese art of sumo wrestling at the 19th IGTF and packed crowd lapped up the exhibition fights on all four evenings.

Current three-time world Sumo champion Byambajav Ulambayar, three time US Heavyweight Sumo Champion Kelly Gneiting, Sumo and free style champion of Mongolia Tumurbaatar Sanchir "Nachin" (Falcon), Sumo champion of Mongolia and twice champion of Mongolia in Weightlifting Bagadavaa Odsuren "Zaan" (Elephant) and Dagvador Azjargal "Arslan" (Lion), Sumo bronze medalist of Mongolia, who also won 5th place in Sumo World Championship participated in this neverbeforewitnessed exhibition of high class sumo wrestling at the 19th IGTF.

Renowned sumo wrestlers from across the world seen in action at Guwahati

The sumo wrestling exhibition was part of ITFAA's initiative to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relationship between Japan and India.

Japan was the Focus Country in 19th IGTF, that was organised in Guwahati February month.

The participation of Mongolian wrestlers in IGTF with the support of Govt of Mongolia was an apparent initiative to build strong bilateral ties between Northeast India and Mongolia.

Since a typical sumo wrestling match lasts only a few minutes, the wrestlers performed multiple matches as also performed sumo exercises and demonstrated training methods, winning techniques and acrobatics, including full body splits.

But most interestingly, they also asked members from the audience to come up and contest with them - more than any serious fight, the hilarious part of it moved everybody to splits whenever anybody from the audience came up to accept the challenge.

Byambajav who starred in many popular Hollywood movies including "Oceans 13" and popular TV series like "America's Got Talent" and "Big Brother" have been competing in Japan and all over the world for the past 10 years.

He has been to 20 countries to participate in Sumo competitions.

Renowned sumo wrestlers from across the world seen in action at Guwahati

Kelly is considered one of the top 3 overall Sumo wrestlers in the United States since 2004.He represented the US in the last 5 World Sumo Championships and was considered one of the top international Sumotori in the world from 2005 through 2007.Along with Byambajav, Kelly also starred in "Oceans 13" .

Kelly has also set the Guinness World Record last year, by being the heaviest human being ever to run a marathon.

He has run the Los Angeles Marathon twice, in 2008 and in 2011 .

Meanwhile,almost as if to repay their debt to the famous wrestlers for coming down to Guwahati, ITFAA has joined hands with various organizations from across the world in the initiative to make Sumo wrestling an Olympic sport.

During their stay in Guwahati, the wrestlers also interacted with students from different educational institutions and sport associations to create awareness about this ancient art form from Japan.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at sivaassam(at)gmail(dot)com .