NAGOYA — Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho clinched his 15th career title in anticlimactic fashion at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday. But he still got an extra bonus of extending his miraculous winning streak to 46 bouts to place him alone in third on sumo's all-time list.
Hakuho claimed his third consecutive title without having to lift a finger as Japanese-born nearest challenger Homasho fell to a third defeat to Mongolian Tokusegawa before the lone yokozuna could step into the raised ring for a pulverization of countryman Harumafuji at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
"I did what I could do," said Hakuho. "It is too bad that I won't be able to get anything. It's unfortunate," said Hakuho said, referring to the fact that the Emperor's Cup and other awards will not be presented in a "yusho" ceremony due to a gambling scandal rocking the sport.