Monday, Nov. 27, 2006

FUKUOKA (AP) Grand champion Asashoryu overpowered ozeki Chiyotaikai on Sunday to finish the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament with a perfect 15-0 record.

No. 2 maegashira Kotoshogiku slams down 11th-ranked maegashira Homasho during final-day action of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday in Fukuoka. Homasho finished the tourney with a 12-3 record and earned the Fighting Sprit Prize. KYODO PHOTO

Asashoryu, who wrapped up his 19th Emperor's Cup with a win on Saturday, got both hands on the belt of Chiyotaikai and lifted the ozeki up and over the straw ridge in the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Chiyotaikai dropped to 9-6.

"It's always nice to win every bout," said Asashoryu, who won the Kyushu meet for a third straight year. "From the 10th day I started to feel I had a good chance to win the title and fought with the pride of a yokozuna."

Mongolian Asashoryu, the only grand champion competing in sumo, defeated Kotooshu on Saturday to secure the title in the year's final tournament.

Sunday's win capped an impressive run in the 15-day Kyushu tourney and was the fifth time Asashoryu has gone undefeated.

In other major bouts, Bulgarian Kotooshu closed out the tournament on a winning note when he lifted up fellow ozeki Tochiazuma and heaved him over the straw ridge, leaving both 10-5.

Sekiwake Miyabiyama shoved out local favorite Kaio to secure a winning record at 8-7. Ozeki Kaio, a Fukuoka native, dropped to 10-5.

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