U.S. WRESTLER WINS PLACE AT SUMO SUMMIT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 26, 1993                   TAG: 9301260094
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
U.S. WRESTLER WINS PLACE AT SUMO SUMMIT
A 455-pound American received a recommendation to become the first foreign grand champion of sumo on Monday, despite reluctance by some Japanese to open the pinnacle of their ancient sport to others.
The 10-member Grand Champion Selection Committee unanimously voted to recommend Chad Rowan's promotion a day after he blitzed local favorite Takahanada out of the ring in a few seconds.
The tournament victory Sunday was Rowan's second consecutive, and he awaited only the formality of one more committee meeting Wednesday before assuming the title of "yokozuna."
Rowan, 23, from Honolulu, who gave up basketball for the grueling life of an apprentice sumo wrestler five years ago, will be the 64th grand champion in history.
"I'll do my best to train well and fulfill everyone's expectations," Rowan, 6 feet 8, said in Japanese. He is known in Japan by his sumo name "Akebono," or Sunrise.
Some conservative supporters of the sport worried about Akebono's quick rise.
"Promotion can't be helped if you let foreigners in," former committee chairman Yoshitaka Takahashi said. "I don't have any complaints about [Rowan's] ability. But I don't feel good about this."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB