{
  "id": 9807252,
  "title": "Gripping stuff! Sumo's 250kg wrestlers are big in Japan - and now they're making their debut in the UAE",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/gripping-stuff-sumos-250kg-wrestlers-are-big-in-japan-and-now-theyre-9807252",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T18:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/combat-sports/2026/09/25/uae-all-star-sumo-wrestling-abu-dhabi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sumo wrestling, a sport that dates back 1,500 years, made its debut in the UAE for the first time this weekend. The event, known as the All-Star Sumo Competition, featured nine elite wrestlers from Japan, Mongolia, and Egypt. The competition took place at Space42 Arena, where fans got to witness the raw power of the sport along with elaborate pre-bout rituals and ceremonies.\n\nIchi, the most decorated wrestler in the competition, spent a decade in Japan's professional system and even won the Emperor’s Cup. Another notable athlete was Hiroki, who weighed in at 250kg and was a star in his own right, with experience in movies like Sanctuary on Netflix and John Wick: Chapter 4.\n\nThe sport is steeped in tradition and respect, with wrestlers often depicted as highly disciplined and revered figures. Ramy El Gazar, Egypt's representative, is a 10-time national champion, a US Sumo Open winner, and a social media influencer with nearly a million followers. He uses his platform to educate people about the rich history and culture of sumo in the Arab region.",
  "summary": "Sumo has been around for 1,500 years, but it took until this weekend for the ancient Japanese sport to make its way to the UAE. Most sports fans would not have even a basic knowledge of sumo. However, anyone of a certain age will surely be aware of Yokozuna and Rikishi from the world of WWE wrestling . Well, those were not just fictional names plucked out of thin air – they are actual titles.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Gripping stuff! Sumo's 250kg wrestlers are big in Japan - and now they're making their debut in the UAE",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/gripping-stuff-sumos-250kg-wrestlers-are-big-in-japan-and-now-theyre",
        "published": "2026-09-25T18:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}