2002 US SUMO OPEN - 2nd Annual
Sunday, August 25, 2002 ......UCLA John Wooden Center
2002 US SUMO OPEN International Sumo Champions pose before the competition.
The California Sumo Association (CSA) held over a dozen major events during 2002, including the second annual US Sumo Open on August 25, 2002. The Open featured 50 international sumo champions from 13 countries. Several national and world champions were present. Once again, two-time World Sumo Champion Svetoslav Binev attended as a special guest. UCLA Kyodo Taiko also performed drumming throughout the competition.

The competition was fierce, dominated by international teams. American athletes only did well in the men's lightweight, while a group of well-trained European teams took most of the medals. For a comprehensive 6-page article on the 2002 US Sumo Open from "Grappling Magazine",

 

Men's Lightweight Medalists Men's Openweight Medalists
Men's Heavyweight Medalists Women Medalists


Photos: K&M Digital Photo