Sumo's Asashoryu criticised for being "podgy"

By Alastair Himmer

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sumo bad boy Asashoryu, no stranger to public criticism, has been labelled "podgy" in a bizarre attack on the volatile Mongolian.

A popular former wrestler now working as a TV commentator accused Asashoryu of being flabby, even though his 150-kilogram frame is relatively small for the sport.

"He looks podgy," Shuhei Mainoumi told Japanese media.

"He doesn't look as buff. When I got flabby I hated being naked and showing off my body -- he looks a bit like that."

Sumo wrestlers, many tipping the scales at well over 250 kilos, do battle wearing only a traditional silk "mawashi" or loin-cloth.

Amid the collapse of his marriage, the controversial grand champion has once again ruffled feathers after oversleeping and missing training ahead of a major tournament in Nagoya.

"I won't let my fans down," Asashoryu growled when asked about his marital problems. "I've proved people wrong before and I see light at the end of the tunnel."

The 28-year-old has polarised opinion in Japan's ancient sport with regular breaches of protocol and his notoriously short fuse has frequently landed him in trouble.