The 24th annual US Sumo Open featured the biggest crowd (4,100+) yet, a strong assembly of dominant foreign teams, a Pro Sumo superstar, and the top international sumo referee, from Japan! Mendee extended his spectacular winning streak, as he and other foreigners swept the men’s medals in all weight classes.
Mendee’s Streak Ends at 30
Mendee won all matches (14-0) at the 2022 US Sumo Open, all matches (13-0) at the 2023 US Sumo Open, and then won his first 3 matches at the 2024 US Sumo Open. THIRTY wins in a row against many dynamic fighters from around the world is not too shabby! In fact, Mendee’s 30-0 winning streak at the US Sumo Open is second only to the legendary Byamba’s.
International & Sensational
Foreign athletes won ALL of the 15 medals, with top honors to Mongolia (4 medals), Republic of Georgia (3 medals), Egypt (3 medals), Azerbaijan (2 medals), Venezuela (1 medal), Japan (1 medal), and Russia (1 medal). In most cases, ALL of the competitors from each foreign country won medals, while no American men won any.
Sibling Success
In the 2023 US Sumo Open, Mongolia’s Usukhbayar won the Men’s Middleweight division, undefeated. In 2024, his younger (and lighter) brother Enkhbayar repeated the feat, winning the Men’s Lightweight division, also undefeated! Quite a display by the siblings with Japanese sumo pedigree.
Georgian Giants
The big boys from the country of Georgia both won gold. Current World Combat Games Champion Lasha Jeladze was #1 in Heavyweight and #2 in Openweight. His compatriot Badri Khatiskatsi barely missed a Heavyweight medal but he was #1 in Openweight. In the Openweight semi-finals, Badri beat Mongolian Mendee and Lasha beat Mongolian Jagii, to set-up an all-Georgian final match.
Mongolians Medal Again
While 5 Mongolian men competed, 4 of them got medals – Enkhbayar (Lightweight gold), Ryenchindavaa (Middleweight silver), Mendee (Heavyweight bronze), and Jagii (Openweight bronze). The Mongolian presence at the US Sumo Open for 20 years in a row has been enormous, with Mongolians leading the medal count BY FAR, in the 24 years of US Sumo Open history.
Viva Venezuela!
Only 2 Venezuelans competed, but they were spectacular. In the Men’s Heavyweight division, Wlater went undefeated, beating not only last year’s champion Fathy (from Egypt), but also the Japanese contender, Kohsei. Like Wlater, Kohsei beat all the other athletes in the division, but in the head-to-head match-up between Wlater and Kohsei, Wlater’s aggressive style thwarted Kohsei’s throw attempt.
In the female division, Venezuelan Esmeralda dominated, winning gold in BOTH Heavyweight and Openweight divisions. Kellyann (USA) got silver in both divisions and Sunjidmaa (Mongolia) got bronze in both divisions.
Cool Highlight
One of the interesting match-ups in the Openweight competition was between two guys with World Sumo Champion titles, but of different sizes. Mendee (heavyweight) took on Egyptian El-Sefy (middleweight, and Mendee came out on top, moving on to the Openweight semi-finals.
Star Power
In addition to speeches by top executives from sponsors (Hakutauru Sake and Kirin Beer), we were happy to welcome Japanese Consul General Kenko Sone, who spoke to the crowd. There was also a special greeting from Pro Sumo Superstar (former sekiwake) Ichinojo, who served as Head Judge. Finally, the #1 international sumo referee from Japan, Mr. Urashima gave a heart-felt and comedic greeting, to liven up the competition.