Asashoryu defeats Hakuho to win his 22nd Spring Grand Tournament sumo tournament

{mosimage}Mongolia’s Asashoryu won the Spring Grand Tournament sumo tournament in Tokyo Sunday by defeating grand champion Hakuho, also from Mongolia. The victory for Asashoryu was especially sweet since it was Hakuho who defeated him in January, thus preventing his winning his comeback match upon his return to Japan.

Mongolia’s Asashoryu won the Spring Grand Tournament sumo tournament in Tokyo Sunday by defeating grand champion Hakuho, also from Mongolia.

The victory for Asashoryu was especially sweet since it was Hakuho who defeated him in January, thus preventing his winning his comeback match upon his return to Japan. 

In the tournament’s championship match, Asashoryu managed to get his arms around Hakuho, twisting him around and pushing him out of the straw ridge at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.

The win was Asashoryu’s 22nd Emperor's Cup as he compiles a record of 13 victories and only two losses.

Speaking to reporters, Asashoryu said, "I wanted to turn the disappointment (of past defeat) into the happiness of winning here. As grand champion, I only focused on winning the title."

mongolia-web.com