The Japan Sumo Association on Wednesday promoted Mongolian wrestler Hoshoryu to ozeki, the sport's second-highest rank, following his victory at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
The 24-year-old, whose given name is Sugarragchaa Byambasuren, is the nephew of renowned former yokozuna Asashoryu, whose 25 championships in the elite makuuchi division are the fourth-most in sumo history.
Hoshoryu secured his maiden top-division title at the 15-day Nagoya tournament on Sunday after finishing with a 12-3 record that gave him 33 wins over the past three tournaments as sekiwake, a benchmark for promotion to ozeki.
He claimed the Emperor's Cup at Dolphins Arena by winning a sudden-death championship playoff against rank-and-file opponent Hokutofuji, who also finished 12-3.
JSA director Sakaigawa and elder Onaruto formalized Hoshoryu's promotion in a ceremony at the lodgings of his Tatsunami stable in Nagoya.
"I will do my utmost never to tarnish the reputation of the ozeki rank," Hoshoryu said.
Hoshoryu becomes the seventh ozeki from Mongolia following the promotion of Kirishima after the May tournament.
With Hoshoryu's promotion, there will be three ozeki and one yokozuna at the next grand tournament. Ozeki Takakeisho sat out the Nagoya meet due to injury, while the sport's lone grand champion, Terunofuji, pulled out on the fourth day.
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Sumo: Hoshoryu beats Hokutofuji in playoff for maiden championship
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