Sumo: Kirishima seals Spring title despite loss after rivals also falter

OSAKA - Sekiwake Kirishima lost his bout but still won the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday with a day to spare as his two closest title rivals, yokozuna Hoshoryu and No. 5 maegashira Kotoshoho, also fell.

Kirishima (12-2), a former ozeki, went down against Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki. But Hoshoryu (10-4) was then beaten by ozeki Kotozakura in the day's final bout to hand Kirishima his third Emperor's Cup with Kotoshoho (10-4) having also lost earlier at Edion Arena Osaka.