ID :
82037
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 00:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/82037
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Sumo: Asashoryu beats Hakuho in playoff to win autumn sumo
TOKYO, Sept. 27 Kyodo -
Asashoryu had to wait for a playoff against rival yokozuna Hakuho before
getting his 29th birthday celebrations off with a bang but pulled off the
improbable to claim his 24th Emperor's Cup at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament
on Sunday.
After losing the last bout in regulation against his rival to drop to his first
defeat, Asashoryu came back to win his first title in four meets, matching
yokozuna great Kitanoumi for third on the all-time list.
Yokozuna legends Taiho (32) and Chiyonofuji (31) are first and second,
respectively.
Asashoryu and Hakuho finished tied at the 15-day meet with 14-1 records.
Asashoryu's last championship win came when he beat Hakuho in another playoff
at the New Year meet in January.
''I gave it everything I had. Before the meet I doubted whether I could compete
but I just focused in every match and improved along the way,'' said Asashoryu,
whose tournament preparations had been hampered by a right knee injury.
''I have been really hit with injuries lately and no matter how positive I am
my body hasn't been able to keep up. I barely made it back. What a great
birthday!'' he said.
Hakuho, who was aiming for back-to-back titles and his 12th Emperor's Cup,
allowed Asashoryu to get an underhanded frontal belt grip after the face-off
and Asashoryu never relented before leaping in the air to twist Hakuho down
with a beltless arm throw.
Asashoryu began the day with a perfect 14-0 mark and appeared to have the
championship all but in the bag before mayhem broke out at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Hakuho came blazing out of the charge, immediately sending Asashoryu
backpedaling over the edge before tossing his opponent down with a powerful arm
throw to force the playoff.
In other major bouts, Bulgarian Kotooshu got rival ozeki Harumafuji locked with
his head almost touching the dirt before flipping his opponent over. Both men
finished at 9-6.
Veteran Kaio gave Kotomitsuki a sumo clinic, tossing his opponent in an
all-ozeki encounter to escape with his eighth win of the meet while leaving his
opponent on 9-6.
Baruto, who won the Fighting Sprit Prize, grabbed Kisenosato (7-8) by the back
of his ''mawashi'' belt before wheeling the sekiwake over the edge in a matter
of seconds to pick up a 12th win.
Kakuryu, a Mongolian No. 3 maegashira who took the Technique Prize, weathered a
fierce storm of slaps by Aminishiki before swatting the komusubi down at the
ring's edge to finish on 11-4. Aminishiki ended his campaign at 7-8.
==Kyodo
Asashoryu had to wait for a playoff against rival yokozuna Hakuho before
getting his 29th birthday celebrations off with a bang but pulled off the
improbable to claim his 24th Emperor's Cup at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament
on Sunday.
After losing the last bout in regulation against his rival to drop to his first
defeat, Asashoryu came back to win his first title in four meets, matching
yokozuna great Kitanoumi for third on the all-time list.
Yokozuna legends Taiho (32) and Chiyonofuji (31) are first and second,
respectively.
Asashoryu and Hakuho finished tied at the 15-day meet with 14-1 records.
Asashoryu's last championship win came when he beat Hakuho in another playoff
at the New Year meet in January.
''I gave it everything I had. Before the meet I doubted whether I could compete
but I just focused in every match and improved along the way,'' said Asashoryu,
whose tournament preparations had been hampered by a right knee injury.
''I have been really hit with injuries lately and no matter how positive I am
my body hasn't been able to keep up. I barely made it back. What a great
birthday!'' he said.
Hakuho, who was aiming for back-to-back titles and his 12th Emperor's Cup,
allowed Asashoryu to get an underhanded frontal belt grip after the face-off
and Asashoryu never relented before leaping in the air to twist Hakuho down
with a beltless arm throw.
Asashoryu began the day with a perfect 14-0 mark and appeared to have the
championship all but in the bag before mayhem broke out at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Hakuho came blazing out of the charge, immediately sending Asashoryu
backpedaling over the edge before tossing his opponent down with a powerful arm
throw to force the playoff.
In other major bouts, Bulgarian Kotooshu got rival ozeki Harumafuji locked with
his head almost touching the dirt before flipping his opponent over. Both men
finished at 9-6.
Veteran Kaio gave Kotomitsuki a sumo clinic, tossing his opponent in an
all-ozeki encounter to escape with his eighth win of the meet while leaving his
opponent on 9-6.
Baruto, who won the Fighting Sprit Prize, grabbed Kisenosato (7-8) by the back
of his ''mawashi'' belt before wheeling the sekiwake over the edge in a matter
of seconds to pick up a 12th win.
Kakuryu, a Mongolian No. 3 maegashira who took the Technique Prize, weathered a
fierce storm of slaps by Aminishiki before swatting the komusubi down at the
ring's edge to finish on 11-4. Aminishiki ended his campaign at 7-8.
==Kyodo
