TOKYO, Nov 27 - Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu on Sunday completed his seventh title victory at the Kyushu Grand Sumo tournament with another bout win, after setting three historic records a day earlier.
In his final bout of the tournament and also of the year, the 25-year-old sumo wrestler seemed to be holding back as his opponent Chiyotaikai caught him in the neck, but spurred to force his rival out of the ring.
The Mongolian had clinched the tournament title on Saturday, outpacing his rivals in terms of wins and losses even before Sunday’s final bout.
Asashoryu brought his win-loss record for the tournament to 14-1, and notched a record 84 wins on the year against just six losses.
On the previous day, Asashoryu, whose name means the blue dragon of morning, became the first sumo wrestler ever to win a seventh consecutive tournament and the first to have won all six tournaments in any one year.
At the awards ceremony, he received the premier’s award trophy directly from the hands of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who visited the western city of Fukuoka to watch the final bouts of the 15-day tournament.
Asked about setting the trio of records, the yokozuna (grand champion) said, There is nothing more wonderful since I became a sumo wrestler.'' I will continue fighting next year’’ with the same spirit of this year, he said.
Bulgarian rookie Kotooshu was the only wrestler who grounded Asashoryu – known for his lightning speed – in this tournament, but he could not defeat Kaio, a Japanese second-ranked ozeki, on his final day.
Kotooshu, 22, is almost certain to be promoted to the rank of ozeki after beating Asashoryu on Friday, thereby setting a record himself as the wrestler to achieve that rank in the shortest time.
He made his debut in November 2002.
The Bulgarian, whose real name is Mahlyanov Kaloyan Stefanov and who has won over many Japanese fans with his David Beckham looks, finished the tournament with a 11-4 win-loss record.
With his 15th career title, Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, became the fifth most successful wrestler in the history of sumo, overtaking Wajima, who holds 14 titles.
Sumo great Taiho holds the highest number of career titles with 32, followed by Chiyonofuji’s 31, Kitanoumi’s 24 and Takanohana’s 22.
But Asashoryu has smashed Taiho’s previous record of winning six straight titles, which the all-time great did twice – in 1963 and 1967.
Asashoryu achieved the records just seven years after making his debut in 1999.