Kotooshu Award

[Taizeniki]

Sofia Awards Bulgarian Top Sumo Wrestler

Bulgaria's Sports Ministry awarded Monday the best Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlianov (Kotooshu) for high sports achievements. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (Sofia News Agency)

Sports: 29 March 2005, Tuesday.

Bulgaria's Sports Minister Vassil Ivanov awarded Tuesday the best Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlyanov (Kotooshu) for high sports achievements.

The ceremony took place in the Rodina hall of the National Stadium "Vassil Levski" in Sofia.

The 22-year old wrestler competed last week in the Second Spring Osaka Grand Sumo Tournament fro winning the prestigious Emperor's Cup.

Mahlyanov is considered as the first European to enter the Japanese Sumo elite - the sanyaki ranks.

His rise to sanyaku is one of the quickest since sumo switched to a six-tournament system in 1958, according to Japanese media.

Mahlyanov is often regarded as "Bulgaria's most famous export after yoghurt."

[Kashunowaka]

Nice ... bad timing though.

[Taizeniki]

Nice ... bad timing though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

wonder how he feels about receiving the award at this time? I'm sure he's glad to be home for a little while. Hopefully it will inspire him to work harder next basho.

[kotooshu_bulgaria]

Yeah, Kotooshu definitely made the news today in his second return to Bulgaria after joining ozumo. Last time he came home was after his first basho as a sekitori last May, but was not noticed by the media too much. This time around he got a couple of awards and was a guest in the most popular TV show in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian version of the Jay Leno. He talked a bit of his life in Japan and his impressions of the country, he was even asked about his sex life, but managed to avoid the question somehow. :-)

Now, I know that the timing for his visit was not good, and he knows that as well, for he was careful not to mention his performance in the last tournament. (Releasing bad air...)

However, I am certain that he will return in Japan envigorated from his visit home (due to leave in two days). He knows that after this return more people in Bulgaria will be following his progress in Japan and he will make sure that he will not give those who criticize his joining ozumo here any reasons to make fun of his losses (In fact, there have been some people here in Bulgaria calling for him to give up on sumo and return to Classic Wrestling, for they say he is not suited for sumo). (Nodding yes...)

Anyways, looking forward to the Natsu basho and a rebound from Kotooshu!

:-O

[Hakuyobaku]

Sorry for being totally (Nodding yes...) , chauvinist, badass, all those..

but That's Kokkai on Jay Leno Georgia..

I also wonder how many Jay Lenos or David Lettermans are there .. i think in USA only there are about 10

(This picture was taken about 1-2 years ago i think)