Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Akebono wins
1st round of annual
knockout tourney

TOKYO, June 10 (Kyodo) - Akebono marched out fellow grand champion Takanohana to win the first-day final of the annual single-elimination sumo tournament on Saturday and take home the 3 million yen first prize.

Akebono knocked off komusubi Kaio, winner of last month's 15-day summer sumo tourney, in his opening bout of the meet, which features sumo's top 36 wrestlers in a knockout format, and then bowled over Takanonami and sekiwake Tochiazuma on his way to the final.

Saturday's victory, however, was bittersweet for Akebono, who needed a win over Takanohana on the final day of the summer tourney three weeks ago to force a championship playoff with Kaio and did not get it.

The Hawaiian-born yokozuna had been seeking his first championship in a major tourney title since 1997, but finished tied with Takanohana as runners-up with a 13-2 record. Kaio won his first-ever championships with a 14-1 mark.

---

For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Ozumo
Kyodo News Service