Yokozuna Kakuryu said Monday he is relieved he was able to claim a long-awaited fourth championship despite suffering from a right-hand injury he sustained two months ago.
A day after the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament concluded at Edion Arena Osaka, the 32-year-old allowed the joy of winning his first championship in eight tournaments to sink in.
"I've never felt so good waking up in the morning," Kakuryu said with a laugh at the customary morning-after press conference. "Seeing my child's face (yesterday) was the greatest feeling ever."