Sumo ‘surging’ in South Yorkshire, says championpublished at 15:19 BST
15:19 BST
Written by Grace Wood, BBC Yorkshire & Ellie Colton, BBC Radio Sheffield
Image source, Will Bowles
Britain’s reigning sumo champion has said the Japanese sport is “surging” across the UK as the Grand Sumo Tournament comes to London.
Will Bowles, who competes with Doncaster Sumo Club, said the competition, which is at the Royal Albert Hall this week, was a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to see the world’s sumo wrestlers in the UK.
He said: “Clubs have popped up all over the UK, multiple clubs have opened this year. But Doncaster was the first British Sumo Union club and it’s blowing up this year. The surge of sumo is crazy.”
Mr Bowles, from Grimsby, oversees multiple sumo clubs in the north of England and is the reigning British open weight champion.
After seeing “legendary” sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji Mitsugu on YouTube, Mr Bowles decided to have a go at the sport and discovered the Doncaster club, which was set up by Adam Lloyd in 2012.
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