Kyokutenho oldest to win 1st sumo title

No. 7 maegashira Kyokutenho clinched his first championship by beating No. 4 Tochiozan in a playoff at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sunday.

The Mongolia-born Kyokutenho became the oldest wrestler to win his first sumo title at 37 years and 8 months. It was also the first time in 11 years a maegashira wrestler has won a tournament since Kotomitsuki took the title at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in 2001.

Kyokutenho finished the 15-day tournament at 12-3 after a victory over sekiwake Goeido earlier in the day, and entered the playoff against Tochiozan, who won against ozeki Kotooshu by forfeit.

It took 121 tournaments for Kyokutenho to win a title--he appeared in his first match at the spring sumo tournament in 1992. Kyokutenho became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2005.

The championship makes him the fourth Mongolia-born wrestler and the 10th foreign-born wrestler to win.

Ozeki Kisenosato (11-4) failed to qualify for the playoff after being beaten by fellow ozeki Baruto.

Yokozuna Hakuho suffered his fifth loss, falling to ozeki Harumafuji.

Newly promoted ozeki Kakuryu ended at 8-7 after a loss to ozeki Kotoshogiku.

(May. 21, 2012)