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Hakuho wins battle of yokozuna to finish Autumn Basho with 15-0 record

Sep 23 (Japan Times) - A day after securing his record-extending 41st championship, Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho closed the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament with a perfect 15-0 record on Sunday.

By winning a yokozuna clash against fellow Mongolian Kakuryu, Hakuho claimed the Emperor’s Cup with a spotless record for a record-extending 14th time. It was Hakuho’s first championship in a year that has seen him struggle with injuries.

“I feel like the god of sumo smiled at me for the first time in a while. It feels amazing,” Hakuho said. “I suffered injuries this year, and my father passed away. So I felt lonely at times but I think I can finally deliver good news to him.

“I wasn’t 100 percent until right before the tournament, but I’m glad I was able to make it in time,” the 33-year-old said. “I think dealing with injuries will be a key to my sumo career.”

In the day’s final bout, the two wrestlers at sumo’s highest rank held each other’s belts with both hands. Kakuryu first charged Hakuho toward the edge, but Hakuho survived the scare, turned around and pushed him out of the ring.

Kakuryu, who won back-to-back championships earlier this year, and Japanese yokozuna Kisenosato each finished with a 10-5 record.

Kisenosato ended the meet with a loss to ozeki Goeido (12-3). Kisenosato was digging to get a hold of Goeido’s belt with his left hand, but the ozeki pinned the yokozuna’s left hand under his armpit and shoved him down.

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