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Bulgarian Kotooshu becomes first European to win an Emperor's Cup

Saturday, 24 May 2008

TOKYO (AP) -- Bulgarian Kotooshu made a history in Japan's ancient sport of sumo Saturday as he became the first European to win an Emperor's Cup.

The 25-year-old Bulgarian star needed only one win from his weekend bouts to claim the title, and jump-started Mongolian opponent Ama from the face-off and crashed into the sekiwake's chest, getting both arms wrapped around his "mawashi" belt to bulldoze him over to the side of the ring.

Kotooshu then tackled him from behind, throwing himself on top of the opponent who went smashing down to the dirt surface at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.

The victory lifted Kotooshu, real name Kaloyan Mahlyanov, to a 13-1 record, claiming the title with a bout to spare.

It was the first tournament win in a six-year-long sumo career for the 202-centimeter Bulgarian, who switched to sumo having been an accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler in his homeland.

His father Stefanov stood with cheering crowd, waving a Bulgarian flag to celebrate his son's victory, which took him 34 tournaments since his sumo debut in 2002.

"I'm too overwhelmed to say anything," Kotooshu told a televised interview, smiling modestly. "I'm so happy. I finally did it."

Kotooshu was all smiles after he receded to his locker room, where his got his topknot fixed by a hair dresser.

"I still can't believe it," he said, then hugged his father.

Overall, Kotooshu is the seventh foreign wrestler to win a tournament title, after retired Hawaiian grand champions Akebono and Musashimaru, as well as Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu and Hakuho.

Hakuho moved to an 11-3 record in this tournament when he shoved out ozeki Kaio, while Asashoryu slammed down ozeki Kotomitsuki, improving his record to 10-4.

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