Osunaarashi makes top grade

Osunaarashi makes top grade

FUKUOKA, Japan - Osunaarashi, a 21-year-old Egyptian, points to the sumo rankings for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament during a press conference in Fukuoka, western Japan, on Oct. 28, 2013, after becoming the first wrestler from Africa to enter the elite makuuchi division in the rankings. His real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan.

Osunaarashi makes top grade

Osunaarashi makes top grade

FUKUOKA, Japan - Osunaarashi, a 21-year-old Egyptian, holds a press conference in Fukuoka, western Japan, on Oct. 28, 2013, after becoming the first wrestler from Africa to enter the elite makuuchi division as the sumo rankings were announced for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. His real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan.

Osunaarashi makes top grade

Osunaarashi makes top grade

FUKUOKA, Japan - Osunaarashi, a 21-year-old Egyptian, points to the sumo rankings for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament during a press conference in Fukuoka, western Japan, on Oct. 28, 2013, after becoming the first wrestler from Africa to enter the elite makuuchi division in the rankings. His real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan.

Egyptian sumo wrestler visits home

Egyptian sumo wrestler visits home

CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian sumo wrestler Osunaarashi (C), whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, is welcomed when he held a lecture in Cairo on Aug. 13, 2013. The first sekitori from Africa has been praised in Japan for compiling a winning record in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July while fasting from dawn to dusk on the days the tournament overlapped with Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.

Egyptian sumo wrestler visits home

Egyptian sumo wrestler visits home

CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian sumo wrestler Osunaarashi (L), whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, holds a lecture in Cairo on Aug. 13, 2013. The first sekitori from Africa has been praised in Japan for compiling a winning record in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July while fasting from dawn to dusk on the days the tournament overlapped with Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.

Egyptian sumo wrestler

Egyptian sumo wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Osunaarashi smiles at a press conference at Otake stable in Tokyo on May 29, 2013, after the Japan Sumo Association elevated him to the juryo ranks, making the Egyptian the first rikishi from Africa. "To be the only one makes me happy," said the 21-year-old wrestler, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan. In the background is a portrait of legendary yokozuna Taiho, who died in January.

Egyptian sumo wrestler

Egyptian sumo wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Osunaarashi holds a press conference at Otake stable in Tokyo on May 29, 2013, after the Japan Sumo Association elevated him to the juryo ranks, making the Egyptian the first rikishi from Africa. "To be the only one makes me happy," said the 21-year-old wrestler, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan.

Egyptian sumo wrestler

Egyptian sumo wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Osunaarashi reacts at Otake stable in Tokyo on May 29, 2013, after the Japan Sumo Association elevated him to the juryo ranks, making the Egyptian the first rikishi from Africa. "To be the only one makes me happy," said the 21-year-old wrestler, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan.

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi (R), sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, defeats Kotoomura in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 7, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), 20, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, marked his debut as a jonokuchi wrestler with a victory.

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi, sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, speaks with reporters at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan after marking his debut as a jonokuchi wrestler with a victory on May 7, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), 20, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, defeated 15-year-old Kotoomura.

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows a bout between jonokuchi wrestlers Osunaarashi (R), an Egyptian and sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, and Kotoomura at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 7, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), 20, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, defeated 15-year-old Kotoomura, marking his debut as a jonokuchi wrestler with a victory.

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

OSAKA, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi, sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, performs a pre-bout ritual as an unofficially ranked wrestler at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on March 13, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, marked his debut with a resounding victory at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in the city of Osaka.

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

OSAKA, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi (L), sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, shoves his opponent as an unofficially ranked wrestler at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on March 13, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, marked his debut with a resounding victory at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in the city of Osaka.

Egyptian sumo wrestler to debut in March

Egyptian sumo wrestler to debut in March

TOKYO, Japan - Abdelrahman Shaalan practices at the Otake stable in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Jan. 15, 2012. The 19-year-old Egyptian, the first African to enter the sumo world, will make his debut at the March tournament in Osaka.

Sumo wrestler Osunaarashi to promote tourism

Sumo wrestler Osunaarashi to promote tourism

Egyptian sumo wrestler Osunaarashi (L) attends a press conference in Cairo on June 2, 2016, as he was named as a tourism ambassador to promote tourism between his native country and Japan. Osunaarashi, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, is the first sumo wrestler from Africa to turn pro in Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sumo wrestler Osunaarashi to promote tourism

Sumo wrestler Osunaarashi to promote tourism

Egyptian sumo wrestler Osunaarashi attends a press conference in Cairo on June 2, 2016, as he was named as a tourism ambassador to promote tourism between his native country and Japan. Osunaarashi, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, is the first sumo wrestler from Africa to turn pro in Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows a bout between jonokuchi wrestlers Osunaarashi (R), an Egyptian and sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, and Kotoomura at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 7, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), 20, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, defeated 15-year-old Kotoomura, marking his debut as a jonokuchi wrestler with a victory. (Kyodo)

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi (R), sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, defeats Kotoomura in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 7, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), 20, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, marked his debut as a jonokuchi wrestler with a victory. (Kyodo)

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

African wrestler marks 1st win as jonokuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi, sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, speaks with reporters at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan after marking his debut as a jonokuchi wrestler with a victory on May 7, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), 20, whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, defeated 15-year-old Kotoomura. (Kyodo)

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

OSAKA, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi (L), sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, shoves his opponent as an unofficially ranked wrestler at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on March 13, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, marked his debut with a resounding victory at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in the city of Osaka. (Kyodo)

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

First-ever African wrestler makes sumo debut

OSAKA, Japan - Egyptian Osunaarashi, sumo's first-ever wrestler of African descent, performs a pre-bout ritual as an unofficially ranked wrestler at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on March 13, 2012. Osunaarashi (Great Sandstorm), whose real name is Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, marked his debut with a resounding victory at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in the city of Osaka. (Kyodo)

Egyptian sumo wrestler to debut in March

Egyptian sumo wrestler to debut in March

TOKYO, Japan - Abdelrahman Shaalan practices at the Otake stable in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Jan. 15, 2012. The 19-year-old Egyptian, the first African to enter the sumo world, will make his debut at the March tournament in Osaka. (Kyodo)