Sumo champ hangs up robe

  • 2013-09-11
  • From wire reports

Estonian sumo wrestler Baruto

TALLINN - Japan’s Nikkan Sports newspaper has reported that Estonian powerhouse Baruto, who won the January 2012 tournament, has retired from sumo aged 28.

Baruto Kaito, a professional sumo wrestler from Estonia, made his debut in May 2004, and is one of only two Estonians ever to join the sport in Japan. He was the first to reach the top division, in May 2006. After suffering a number of injury problems in 2007, he reached the third highest rank of sekiwake in November 2008, and was promoted to ozeki rank after finishing the March 2010 tournament with a score of 14–1.

He has been a tournament runner-up four times and earned five special prizes for Fighting Spirit, one for Outstanding Performance and one for Technique. In the January 2012 tournament he recorded his first top division championship. He lost his ozeki rank after more injury problems at the end of 2012.