Asashoryu crowned overall champion on Mongolian tour

Thursday 28th August, 08:41 PM JST

ULAN BATOR —

Asashoryu beat fellow Mongolian grand champion Hakuho to win the overall title of mini tournaments Thursday, bringing a fitting end to sumo’s first-ever exhibition tour of the country. Asashoryu downed compatriot Tokitenku in the second-day final and went on to topple archrival Hakuo, winner of the first-day tourney on Wednesday, with a belt-gripping throw in front of a sell-out crowd of 2,700 excited to witness a meeting between their hometown heroes.

‘‘We both are decent grand champions and feel the love of the people here because this is where we come from,’’ Asashoryu said. ‘‘I’m extremely happy because all these people cheered us on from the bottom of their hearts, and I couldn’t stop shedding tears of joy.’’ The sumo delegation, including 36 wrestlers from the top makuuchi division, will return to Japan in two groups on Friday and Saturday following their Mongolian tour.

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5 Comments

Chessnutroastin at 12:39 AM JST - 29th August

Yeah baby!!!! It has been a little while coming for Asa to beat Hakuho. Now if he can just beat him when it counts on the penultimate day of the aki basho. Reagardless, it's a good confidence boost for the senior yokozuna.
ExPrinceska at 01:14 AM JST - 29th August

When is the akibasho? Looking forward to Kotooshyu revenging to both Hakuho and Asashoryu for their wins against him. Tanoshimi ni.
ExPrinceska at 01:19 AM JST - 29th August

Kotooshyu is weak and a loser.

that is so harsh... I hope he finds the way to win the aki basho.
Asahak at 01:59 AM JST - 29th August

Ìf the bouts are fixed, I don`t understand why the Mongolians beat the Japanese on a regular basis and why there are two Mongolian Yokozuna... Does not make much sense to me.

The guys name is Kotooshu and he can be glad if he finds his way home after the next basho because the revenge of the Yokozuna will be very hard.
dennis0bauer at 03:37 PM JST - 1st September

ExPrinceska in about 2 weeks.

Asahak because mongolian wrestling is thougher as is their life on he mongolian plains?

It was funny to see that so many mongolians liked Kaio