Fast-rising Hoshoryu clinched a maiden title, and earned promotion to sumo¡¯s second highest rank of ozeki, with a fine 12-3 effort in Nagoya last month.
The 10th Mongolian-born rikishi to lift the Emperor¡¯s Cup only turned 24 in May and is on track to reach even greater heights over the next few years.
Unfortunately for Hokutofuji ¡ª the man who went into the final weekend of the July meet as sole leader, before ultimately falling to Hoshoryu in a playoff ¡ª the future doesn¡¯t look quite as bright.
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