Yokozuna Onosato expresses joy after tourney victory

Yokozuna Grand Champion Onosato has expressed his joy at winning his first sumo tournament title in a year, after what he described as "a long and difficult period."

Onosato spoke to reporters at his stable in Ibaraki Prefecture on Monday, a day after winning the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Since suffering a left shoulder injury at the Kyushu tournament last year, the Yokozuna had struggled with tournament withdrawals and disappointing performances. But at the autumn tournament, Onosato displayed his trademark forceful, forward-driving style in a number of bouts.

Onosato suffered consecutive losses toward the end of the tournament and was tied with Ozeki Aonishiki. But he won on the final day to clinch his sixth championship with a record of 12 wins and three losses.

Onosato said he was able to sleep well the previous night for the first time in a while. He said it had been a long and tough time, but that he was glad he was able to finish the tournament by winning the title.

The Yokozuna said he was not at his best at the beginning of the tournament, but felt his condition improving with every bout and kept telling himself that he could do it.

He also said he became too focused on winning the championship toward the end of the tournament, but was able to regain his composure and win in the end.

Looking back on the period when he was struggling with his shoulder injury, Onosato said he had kept wrestling while thinking he would somehow be able to overcome it, but found that he could not. He said this setback gave him an opportunity to think about sumo from different perspectives and that it was a learning experience for him as an athlete.

Looking ahead, Onosato said he believes a strong yokozuna should win every bout, and that he will focus on training.