2003 US SUMO OPEN - 3rd Annual

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2003 4:30pm
Manhattan Country Club, Los Angeles


Photo: Chieko Hayashi

We held several major tournaments in 2003. The main events included:

Sumo Clinic with AKEBONO >>

"SUMO EAST AND WEST" Movie screening, Q&A with AKEBONO

SUMO TOURNAMENT #1 >>

SUMO TOURNAMENT #2 >>

The third annual US SUMO OPEN featured special guest, AKEBONO, and 31 sumo athletes from all over the world. Many of the 2002 champions met again in the final rounds, and once again, foreign teams dominated the event.
Athletes and fans alike were excited to meet yokozuna (grand champion) AKEBONO at the 2003 US SUMO OPEN. AKEBONO demonstrated sumo, taught international teams, and commentated at the tournament. The sumo legend announced that he looks forward to seeing everyone in Los Angeles again.
AKBONO Highlights >>

 

 

 

3rd Annual Top Athletes

	Barnabas Toth Hungary 5'11"     358 lbs Heavyweight Gold, Openweight Gold		Troy Collins US - CA 6'2"     245 lbs Middleweight Silver
	Major Gyula Hungary 5'8"     253 lbs Middleweight Gold, Openweight Bronze		Flo Kinslow Lebanon 5'8"     160 lbs Middleweight Gold, Openweight Gold
	Mahshid Tarazi US - CA 5'6"     178 lbs Heavyweight Gold, Openweight Silver

 

Sumo Clinic with AKEBONO

Saturday, August 2, 2003
Manhattan Country Club, Los Angeles

AKEBONO, now a professional sumo stablemaster in Japan, taught proper sumo ritual and technique at a sumo clinic for international sumo teams. It is very rare for a stablemaster to teach outside his own stable, so the athletes at the clinic got a very rare treat, including one-on-one coaching by the Grand Master himself.
more >>

"SUMO EAST AND WEST" movie screening and Q&A with AKEBONO

Friday, August 1, 2003 -- 7:00PM
Aratani/Japan America Theater, Los Angeles

A screening was held of the groundbreaking film showing professional Japanese sumo and international amateur sumo, including footage of AKEBONO. AKEBONO gave an exciting speech and answered audience questions after the screening. Fans of all ages kept calling out questions for half an hour until AKEBONO had to be pulled out for his next appearance. more >>
SUMO EAST AND WEST - DVD >>

SUMO TOURNAMENT #1

Sunday, June 29, 2003
Manhattan Country Club, Los Angeles

#1 featured some of America's top sumo wrestlers, including two US National champions, and several medalists from the 2002 US Sumo Open. The initial rounds were dramatic, but the competition really heated up in the openweight rounds. more >>

	Troy Collins US - CA 6'2"     245 lbs Middleweight Gold, Openweight Gold		Trent Sabo US - CA 5'8"     185 lbs Lightweight Gold, Openweight Silver
	Jack Keener US - CA 6'2"     253 lbs Middleweight Gold, Openweight Bronze		Asi Faoa Samoa 6'4"     270 lbs Heavyweight Silver

 

SUMO TOURNAMENT #2

Sunday, July 13, 2003
Manhattan Country Club, Los Angeles

#2 featured some amazing upsets, including a stunning performance by the only lightweight, Trent Sabo, who defeated all middleweight and heavyweight contenders in the opening rounds! Female sumo athletes also added to the excitement. more>>

	Mosi Hupmhrey US - CS 6'1"     293 lbs Heavyweight Gold, Openweight Gold		Trent Sabo US - CA 5'8"     180 lbs Lightweight Gold, Openweight Silver
	Troy Collins US - CA 6'2"     245 lbs Middleweight Gold, Openweight Bronze		Ashlee Irish US - CA 5'5"     135 lbs Openweight Gold
	May Chung Hong Kong 5'3"     108 lbs Openweight Silver

 

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2003 US SUMO OPEN OVerVIEW

Opening ceremonies included Japanese taiko drumming and Japanese traditional dance. A sake barrel breaking ceremony with Akebono, and representatives of The Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan kicked off the competition. The third annual US SUMO OPEN was part of "US-Japan 150", in celebration of the 150th anniversary of US-Japan relations... read more >>

2003 MEN'S RESULTS

LIGHTWEIGHT
1st: Joe Davis (USA)
2nd: Tumur Baatar (Bulgaria)
3rd: Kevin Yonemoto (USA)

MIDDLEWEIGHT
1st: Major Gyulai (Hungary)
2nd: Kena Heffernan (USA)
3rd: Troy Collins (USA)

HEAVYWEIGHT
1st: Barnabas Toth (Hungary)
2nd: Sonny Parsons (New Zealand)
3rd: Kelly Gneiting (USA)

OPENWEIGHT
1st: Barnabas Toth (Hungary)
2nd: Troy Collins (USA)
3rd: Major Gyula (Hungary)

2003 WOMEN's results

OPENWEIGHT
1st: Flo Bannout-Kinslow (USA)
2nd: Mahshid Tarazi (USA)
3rd: May Chung (Hong Kong)
4th: Jennifer Perkins (USA)