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| Messenger photos by Pat Donahue
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| Sumo wrestlers Bayanbat Davaadalai, and Kelly Gneiting were a big hit at the 2008 Asian Festival held at Franklin Park. The rotund wrestlers put on several exhibitions throughout the festival explaining, and demonstrating the art of Sumo Wrestling. Fans from the audience were invited on stage to take on the Sumo Champions but usually sent tumbling. Both wrestlers have been Sumo Wrestling for 8 years and have multiple national championships to their credits. Bayanbat (left) was recruited from Mongolia to train in Japan and now lives in Los Angeles. Kelly was experienced in Greco Roman, and Free Style wrestling, but when he took some years off, he put some pounds on and discovered Sumo. Kelly says that one of the most rewarding aspects of the sport has been the number of opportunities to help charities while promoting it which he and Bayanbat do often.
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| Zack Shalash, 12, of Ridgeview Middle School, has his hands full with 300-lb. Bayanbat Davaadalai during a sumo wrestling exhibition at the Asian Festival at Franklin Park May 25. Fans from the audience were invited on stage to take on the sumo champions but usually sent tumbling. The wrestlers have been sumo wrestling for eight years and have multiple national championships to their credits. Bayanbat was recruited from Mongolia to train in Japan and now lives in Los Angeles. |
