Sumo wrestler Tochinoshin, who was recently promoted second-highest rank of ozeki, said Sunday he plans to ask Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili to build a sumo ring in his homeland.

The 30-year-old, who won the 15-day January Grand Sumo Tournament this year, expressed his intention to ask the President in person when he returns to Georgia for the first time in a year.

“We don’t have a proper ring made of sand in Georgia yet,” Tochinoshin said, while attending a party at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan. “I want to talk about many things with him.”

Tochinoshin, whose real name is Levan Gorgadze, became the third European wrestler to reach the ozeki rank when his promotion was rubber-stamped by the Japan Sumo Association on Wednesday.

He will join Takayasu and Goeido in the rank for July’s Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after he returns from his time home in Georgia, where he also plans to attend his brother’s wedding.

“I’m nervous because my situation has changed,” Tochinoshin said. “There’s going to be a lot to get used to.”

By Shawn Wayne

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