Abi receives the Emperor's Cup from Hakkaku, the Japan Sumo Association's chairman, at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on November 27 in Fukuoka. (KYODO)
This article first appeared on SportsLook, JAPAN Forward's dedicated sports website.
"It seems like a dream, it doesn't seem like reality," Abi said in a ringside interview. "My stable master emailed me and told me to just concentrate on one bout at a time. I just tried to focus on each one."
In the playoff at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, No. 9 maegashira Abi first defeated Takayasu for the second time on the final day when he dodged slightly to his side and then swatted down his opponent at the center of the ring.
Takayasu's head hit Abi awkwardly at the face-off and the top maegashira needed assistance walking off the dohyo.
Next up, Abi took on ozeki Takakeisho and used his trademark arm thrusts to the neck to complete a wild day of sumo and clinch his first championship.
"I tried to go in low and fast, that's the only thing I was thinking of," Abi said.
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He added, "I can't really put it into words what this means. It hasn't sunk in yet."
Abi was also awarded the tournament's Fighting Spirit Prize.
The last time there was a three-way playoff was in 1994 at the March tournament when grand champion Akebono won, beating Takanonami and Takatoriki.
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