A Kazakh sumo wrestler nearly crushed spectators during the Emperor's Cup finals in Tokyo.

Kazakhstan sumo wrestler Yersin Baltagul, known in Japan as Kimbodzan Haruki, has concluded his participation in the elite Hatsu Base tournament (Emperor's Cup) 2025, securing an honorable 3rd place, reports Caravan.kz.

At the end of the main round, three sumo wrestlers — Japanese Oho Konosuke, Kazakhstan's Baltagul, and Mongolian Sugaragchaagiyn Byambasuren (Japanese name Hoseru Tomokatsu) — all achieved the same score of 12 wins and 3 losses. A super final was arranged, where the three giants competed for the championship.

In the match against the Mongolian, unfortunately, the Kazakhstani could not maintain his footing, and his opponent threw him directly into the audience seated in the front rows. There are no reports of injuries among the spectators, but the audience clearly experienced a thrill as a 178-kilogram fighter flew toward them.

As a result, the Mongolian sumo wrestler became the champion of Hatsu Base 2025, the Japanese finalist took second place, and Yersin Baltagul finished in 3rd place. It is worth noting that the Emperor's Cup (Hatsu Base) is a tournament with extremely high competition, and the number of foreign sumo wrestlers in the tournament is limited. To get on the starting list, a non-Japanese citizen must wait their turn and prove their skill.