Kakuryu Vows Undefeated Championship in Next Tournament

May 28, 2018

Tokyo- Yokozuna Kakuryu vowed Monday to go undefeated at the next grand sumo tournament in July, after marking his second straight victory in the May tournament that ended Sunday.

"I'm happy that I was able to achieve my major goal of winning consecutive championships," the Mongolian-born grand champion told a press conference.

During the last tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo, Kakuryu managed to take the title although he had a fever and could not take naps due to coughing, according to the yokozuna.

"I will put the pleasure from the victory behind me this week," Kakuryu said. "I will boost my efforts to achieve an undefeated championship."

Meanwhile, Tochinoshin, a wrestler from the Caucasian country of Georgia, had a separate press conference ahead of his expected promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki from the July tournament from the third-highest rank of sekiwake.

"I have to work harder," Tochinoshin said, looking ahead to challenges he is likely to face as an ozeki. Tochinoshin finished the latest 15-day tournament with 13 wins and two losses. Jiji Press