Sumo couple take charge | Ipswich Sport | Local Sports in Ipswich

Sumo Wrestling couple Drew Weeks and Stephanie Wong.

Photo: Claudia Baxter

BURGLARS beware, the next time you decide to rob a house in Camira, you better pray it's not the household of Drew Weeks and Stephanie Wong.

Weeks, 22, and Wong, 20, are two of Australia's finest athletes in the ancient Japanese sport of sumo wrestling.

The pair, who have been together for about two years, are gearing up for The World Games, which takes place next month in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

After this year's World Sumo Championships in Egypt was cancelled due to swine flu concerns, The World Games, which is a celebration of unity and friendship through a diverse range of spectacular sports, is now Weeks and Wong's main focus for the year.

Last month the pair had solid hit outs at the 2009 Oceania Sumo Championships at Tallebudgera, with Weeks finishing third in the heavyweight title, and Wong claiming silver in both the lightweight and opens' divisions.

While the pair will be coming up against some stiff competition, Weeks believes he and his girlfriend will surprise a few people when they represent Australia as part of the Oceania team at The World Games.

“I'm quietly confident. You got to go into every match with that attitude,” the 160kg Australian heavyweight champion said.

“I think we can cause a few upsets and grab a medal each.”

Weeks and Wong only took up the sport about a year ago, after their wrestling coach, Kenichi Matsuto suggested the pair should try their hand at the fast and fearless sport of sumo wrestling.

The duo have tried other forms of martial arts, like freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman, but Weeks and Wong have developed a fondness for sumo wrestling, which is making headway in becoming an Olympic sport.

When the two return from The World Games, Weeks is endeavouring to start up a sumo program for younger people in the local community and dispel the negative myths surrounding the sport.

“I want to try and start up a club in the west Brisbane area and try and get some young people involved, possibly larger children who might feel self conscious in other sporting arenas,” he said.

“Anyone can do it, you just have to have four things: flexibility, strength, explosiveness and no fear.”

Weeks and Wong are searching for sponsors to help fund their World Games trip, which will cost around $3000 for them both to go.

• To help contact Weeks on 0421 979 611 or email drew_weeks1@hotmail.com.