Hakuba Takeshi
Introduction '''Hakuba Takeshi''' (白馬毅, born May 5, 1983) is a former sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Joining the professional sport in 2000, he entered the top division for the first time in 2008, returning in 2010.His highest rank was ''komusubi''. He was forced to retire from sumo in 2011 after being found guilty by the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) of involvement in match-fixing.
Early life and sumo background Ariunbayar Unurjargal had little background in sports. However, his aunt living in Japan had an acquaintance who knew the coach of Tatsutagawa stable. He was encouraged to come to Japan and try out. The Tatsutagawa coach had originally intended for Hakuba to join another stable in the same ''ichimon'', Michinoku, as his own stable would be disbanded upon his impending retirement. However, at the time of Hakuba's entry in January 2000, Michinoku already had its Japan Sumo Association designated limit of foreign wrestlers. Hakuba was therefore allowed to join Tatsutagawa after all, with the understanding he would join Michinoku upon Tatsutagawa being shut down, which occurred in September 2000.His ''shikona'' or fighting name was chosen by Michinoku's support committee and combines the character for "white", because a white star is what a winning bout is called in sumo terminology, and the character for "horse", an emotive image of Mongolia.
Career Exactly a year after entering sumo, he won the ''jonidan'' division championship or ''yūshō'', the first his stable had had. However, after this he struggled for several years in the middle division ranks. A streak of success in 2006, culminating in the ''makushita'' championship in the last tournament of 2006, would finally grant him promotion to ''jūryō'' in January 2007.He never dropped below again, but after breaking into the top ''makuuchi'' division for the first time in May 2008 he was demoted after only one tournament. His rise to ''makuuchi'' was the second slowest for a foreigner after Sentoryū. His second appearance in ''makuuchi'' at his highest yet achieved rank of ''maegashira'' 14 was in January 2010 and he secured his ''kachi-koshi'' by Day 10, finishing on 9–6.This took him to a new highest rank to date of ''maegashira'' 9 in March. He came through with another winning record there and was promoted to ''maegashira'' 5 for the May tournament.The May 2010 basho was Hakuba's most successful yet. He scored ten wins from his new highest rank, and defeated two ''ōzeki'', fellow Mongolian Harumafuji (in his first bout against an ''ōzeki''), and Kotoōshū. He was rewarded with promotion to ''komusubi'' for the July 2010 tournament, becoming the first member of the old Tatsutagawa stable to reach the titled ''san'yaku'' ranks and the first from Michinoku since the present stablemaster (former ''ōzeki'' Kirishima) took over in 1997.He could manage only four wins in his ''komusubi'' debut.Hakuba was one of 23 wrestlers found guilty of fixing the result of bouts after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association, and he was forced to retire in April 2011.Since 2013 he has been working at a restaurant called "Ulaanbaatar" in Ryōgoku run by his mother, specializing in Mongolian food.
Fighting style Hakuba was one of the lightest wrestlers in the top division, with a typical fighting weight of around . He was a ''yotsu-sumo'' specialist, preferring grappling techniques. His favoured grip on his opponent's ''mawashi'' was ''hidari-yotsu'', a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most common winning ''kimarite'' is a straightforward ''yori-kiri'' or force out. He also regularly employed both ''uwatenage'' (overarm throw) and ''shitatenage'' (underarm throw). He often used ''henka'' (side-stepping) at the ''tachi-ai'' for which he was routinely criticized.
Personal life Some tabloids in Japan had implied his romantic relationships with several female celebrities, including glamour model Nozomi Sasaki until he announced publicly in January 2010 that he had married the younger sister of fellow Mongolian ''rikishi'' Tokitenkū on October 3, 2008.The wedding ceremony took place on June 18, 2011 at Tokyo's Metropolitan Hotel, which Hakuba combined with his ''danpatsu-shiki'' or retirement ceremony. He has a daughter born in November 2008.
Career record
See also *Glossary of sumo terms*List of non-Japanese sumo wrestlers*List of past sumo wrestlers*List of komusubi
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