Hakuho seizes 28th career title after a tie-breaker

By B.KHASH-ERDENE

Mongolian Sumo Grand Champion Hakuho Davaajargal won a tie-breaker against fellow Mongolian Ozeki (second highest title) Kakuryu Anand on Sunday, securing his 28th career title in the January tournament.
“Hakuho lived up to his status as grand champion of the sport by demolishing the Ozeki in their second go. The Yokozuna completed the 15 days of competition with 14 wins plus the tie-breaker victory,” reported the Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese news website.
In the tie-breaker, the two sumo giants faced off with an equal footing, with 14 victories and one loss. Yokozuna Hakuho ended the second match with a decisive victory, displaying his unmatched power by shoving Kakuryu out of the ring with excessive force.
“I really wanted this championship no matter what,” Hakuho told Japanese reporters. “I‘m very happy… It will be my last title as a 28 year old.”
In their previous match of the day, Kakuryu beat Hakuho by driving him out of the ring. Kakuryu’s victory ended Hakuho’s chance of finishing the tournament with a perfect score.
Although Kakuryu lost the tournament, following his display of solid results and by holding his own with the grand champion, sumo enthusiasts speculate that he might be in for a promotion if he wins the next tournament in March. If Kakuryu is promoted to Yokozuna, he will become the fourth Mongolian to reach the title, and the third active grand champion.
Another Mongolian sumo wrestler, Kyoktenho Tsevegnyam, set a record for the oldest man to compete in the top professional sumo division at the age of 39. The previous record holder was American Takamiyama.
In the second division of the professional sumo tournament, Mongolian wrestler Azumaryu Todbileg ended the competition with 10 victories and five losses, and Tamawashi Munkh-Orgil finished with eight victories and seven losses.

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Posted by The UB Post on Jan 26 2014. Filed under Онцлох мэдээлэл. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.