Japan ends wait for sumo star

Country hails first homegrown champion in nearly two decades

Japan's excruciating wait for a homegrown yokozuna, or sumo grand champion, ended on Wednesday when 30-year-old Kisenosato was promoted to the ancient sport's highest rank.

A first Emperor's Cup triumph at the weekend was deemed good enough for him to become the first Japan-born wrestler to reach the lofty perch since Wakanohana in 1998, although it took Kisenosato 73 tournaments to get there - longer than anyone since 1926.