Oct 04, 2024
Sumo Club’s Sakura Ishii wins gold medal in Lightweight Class of the Women Sumo World Championships
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OBJECTIVE.
Sakura Ishii, a member of the Rikkyo University Athletic Association’s Sumo Club, won the Lightweight Class at the Women’s Sumo World Championships held in Krotoszyn, Poland, September 7-8. She is a first-year student in the Department of Sport and Wellness at the College of Sport and Wellness.
The Sumo World Championships, sponsored by the International Sumo Federation, aims to promote and expand sumo globally while fostering friendships among sumo wrestlers worldwide. The women's division was established in 2001. Both the men’s and women’s divisions compete at the same venue and at the same time, featuring amateur sumo wrestlers from various countries and regions.
Ishii participated in both the team competition and the individual competition (under 80 kg). In previous championships, she earned a spot on the winners' podium twice, but this is the first time she reached the top position. She also served as the leader in the first match of the team competition, where Japan secured second place.
Before this event, Ishii won the Third All-Japan Sumo Individual Weight Category Tournament, which earned her a ticket to the world championships.
Ishii participated in both the team competition and the individual competition (under 80 kg). In previous championships, she earned a spot on the winners' podium twice, but this is the first time she reached the top position. She also served as the leader in the first match of the team competition, where Japan secured second place.
Before this event, Ishii won the Third All-Japan Sumo Individual Weight Category Tournament, which earned her a ticket to the world championships.
Comment
First-year student of in the Department of Sport and Wellness at the College of Sport and Wellness
Sakura Ishii
I am absolutely thrilled to have won the championship!
I participated in the World Championships for the first time as a first-year middle school student and secured third place. The following year, I earned second place. However, the championships were canceled during my third year of middle school and both my first and second years of high school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, I was unable to participate during my third year of high school.
After facing numerous frustrations in the Lightweight Class at previous World Championships, I am incredibly happy to have won this time. Standing on the highest point of the podium — a position I earned through hard work and dedication — was an amazing experience. I felt as if I were on top of the world, with everything shining around me. I nearly shed tears as "Kimigayo," the Japanese national anthem, played after I received my gold medal and saw Japan’s national flag raised.
I have experienced numerous setbacks, but I have once again realized that it was good for me to have pursued my dream without giving up. I am deeply grateful to my family, who accompanied me around the world to support and cheer me on. I could not have won the championships without their unwavering support. Moving forward, I will do my best to keep fighting for my dreams.
(Sakura Ishii, left in the photo)