2005 US SUMO OPEN - 5th Annual
March 19  12:30 PM ......LoLos Angeles Convention Center, Downtown LA

The 2005 US Sumo Open featured national sumo teams from around the world. One of the highlights this year is the Japanese team, with several top-ranked Japanese athletes, including the former World Sumo Champion (and Japanese National Champion). Other top national teams that attended include Bulgaria (which sent a team for the fourth year in a row).
International sumo wrestlers prepare for action. ........................................................ Photo: Chuck Green
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US SUMO OPEN 5th Annual Top Athletes
KOICHI KATO
378 lbs
Heavyweight Gold
Openweight Gold
JAPAN
KENA HEFFERNAN
250 lbs
Middleweight Gold
Openweight Silver
Hawaii
TROY COLLINS
253 lbs
Middleweight Bronze
Openweight Bronze
California
CARL PAPPALARDO
330 lbs
Heavyweight Silver
New York
SHINTARO FUKUZATO
253 lbs
Middleweight Silver
JAPAN
   
DIMITAR PETKOV
360 lbs
Heavyweight Bronze
BULGARIA
MAHSHID TARAZI
174 lbs
Middleweight Bronze
Openweight Gold
California
HIROKO SUZUKI
150 lbs
Middleweight Gold
Openweight Bronze
JAPAN
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MARCH SUMO TOUR DETAILS
March 13 - 18, 2005      Southern California

The Japanese Sumo Team, including the World Sumo Champion, held sumo lectures, demonstrations, and sumo training at high schools and universities throughout southern California.