Grand champion Asashoryu put the finishing touches on his 20th Emperor's Cup with an emphatic win over Kotooshu on Sunday, the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu clinched his 20th Emperor's Cup on Saturday with a win over ozeki Tochiazuma. On the final day, he improved to 14-1 when he overpowered Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (9-6) with a textbook arm throw in the final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Mongolian Asashoryu, the only grand champion currently competing in sumo, is fifth on the all-time list of title winners. Grand champion Taiho, who retired in 1971, is first with 32.
PHOTO: AFP
It was also the fourth straight Emperor's Cup for the 26-year-old wrestler from Ulan Bator.
In other major bouts, No. 9 maegashira Toyonoshima, who was in contention for the title until Saturday, closed out his impressive showing with a win over sekiwake Kotomitsuki.
Toyonoshima sidestepped a charging Kotomitsuki (8-7) and slapped his opponent down to finish with a solid record of 12-3.
For his efforts, Toyonoshima was awarded with the tournament's Fighting Spirit Prize and Technique Prize.
Elsewhere, Mongolian Hakuho fought off a series of arm thrusts and lifted fellow ozeki Chiyotaikai out over the straw ridge to give both wrestlers a 10-5 record.
Veteran Kaio wrapped up a winning record at 8-7 when he used an arm throw to send struggling fellow ozeki Tochiazuma sprawling to the dirt. Tochiazuma, who has been hampered by injury in this tourney, closed out with a disappointing record of 5-10.
Mongolian Ama, a No. 4 maegashira, recovered from a shaky faceoff and used an arm throw at the edge of the ring to improve to 10-5 with a win over komusubi Kisenosato, who dropped to 7-8.
Top maegashira Kotoshogiku denied fan favorite Takamisakari a winning record when he muscled out the fifth-ranked maegashira to improve to 9-6. Takamisakari finished the tournament with a record of 7-8.
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