Sumo: Asashoryu clinches 25th Emperor`s Cup at New Year basho

TOKYO, Jan. 23 Kyodo -
Asashoryu shrugged off fresh reports of thuggish antics off the raised ring to
clinch his 25th Emperor's Cup on Saturday with victory over compatriot
Harumafuji on the penultimate day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Sumo's self-styled enfant terrible, accused by a tabloid magazine of becoming
embroiled in a drunken scuffle at a Tokyo night spot during the first week
tournament, needed to be on top of his game to see off the challenge of ozeki
Harumafuji (11-3) in an absorbing encounter at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The Mongolian grand champion had a couple of wobbly moments in the day's finale
but his class shone through in the end, sending Harumafuji sprawling with an
underarm throw to secure the title with a 13th win.
''I wanted to get it over and done with in a moment but he was very stubborn,''
said Asashoryu. ''I am glad I was able to take my chance when it came.''
''Ozeki are getting stronger so it is important that wherever possible I get
control of the mawashi (belt). I feel a bit worn out,'' he said.
Asashoryu's latest championship triumph gave him sole possession of third place
on the all-time list behind former yokozuna greats Taiho (32) and Chiyonofuji
(31).
''(Third place) is the bronze medal, isn't it,'' said Asashoryu. ''I wasn't
really that confident for this tournament but I have been moving well and that
has resulted in this happiness. Still, I keep losing on the last day (to
Hakuho) so I really want to win.''
Japan Sumo Association chairman Musashigawa hailed Asashoryu's achievement,
saying, ''Nobody expected Hakuho to collapse but Asashoryu has shown amazing
concentration.''
Former JSA head Kitanoumi added, ''It won't stop with his 25th title. He will
keep on winning more titles.''
Asashoryu has been involved in repeated run-ins with sumo officialdom for a
slew of misdemeanors and he could be in more hot water after tabloid-style
magazine Friday claimed he was ''hammered'' after leaving a drinking
establishment in downtown Nishiazabu and punched an associate, who turned out
to be one of his managers.
Back on the dohyo, Hakuho (11-3) registered his first win in three bouts when
he tipped Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (8-7) over but it was too little, too late
for the grand champion, who had come into the 15-day meet as the favorite to
lift his 13th title.
Suffering for his art, Kaio secured a majority of wins by flooring third-ranked
Kisenosato with a textbook overarm throw but was left wincing in pain and
appeared to be rubbing his strapped knee after stepping down from the dohyo.
Both men have 8-6 marks.
In other bouts, Estonian sekiwake Baruto was all smiles after pinging around
fourth-ranked Kakizoe (6-8) around like a pinball and dropping him with an
''osakate'' backward twisting overarm throw for win No. 11.
Kakuryu (6-8) was saddled with a losing record after getting thrust down by
sixth-ranked Amnishiki (10-4) on a day that also saw fellow komusubi
Kotoshogiku condemned to an eighth loss at the hands of fifth-ranked Kyokutenho
(8-6).
==Kyodo