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Asashoryu wins sixth Cup after playoff with Kotooshu

Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, right, pushes out Bulgarian Kotooshu in a playoff after the two finished even in the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, yesterday. Asashoryu won the bout to secure his sixth Emperor's Cup. PHOTO: AFP

Grand champion Asashoryu completed an impressive comeback yesterday, winning his sixth straight Emperor's Cup on the final day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament with wins over ozeki Tochiazuma and Bulgarian Kotooshu in a playoff.

In the playoff at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Asashoryu spun Kotooshu around after the faceoff and shoved the sekiwake wrestler out to capture his 14th title.

With his sixth straight win, Asashoryu matched a 38-year-old mark set by sumo legend Taiho.

Earlier, Mongolian Asashoryu came bursting out of the blocks and leveled Tochiazuma with a left shoulder to the head of the stunned ozeki to improve to 13-2 and set up a decisive playoff with Kotooshu, who minutes earlier defeated Chiyotaikai.

Asashoryu lost on the 11th day of the 15-day meet and then reeled off four straight wins to force a playoff with Kotooshu, who was looking to become the first European to ever hoist an Emperor's Cup.

"I lost two bouts in this tournament and things weren't looking too good," said Asashoryu.

"But everyone around me told me to hang in there and everything worked out in the end. I'm very happy to win this one."

Kotooshu, who had lost two bouts in a row, got both arms around Chiyotaikai after the faceoff and forced the ozeki wrestler over the edge to improve to 13-2. Chiyotaikai finished the tournament with a 10-5 record, good enough to maintain his ozeki status for the next meet.

It was a bitter loss for Kotooshu, who had two chances to wrap up the title before Asashoryu staged his impressive comeback.

"It's very disappointing," said Kotooshu.

"But I just have to learn from the experience and will try to do my best in the next tournament."
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