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TOKYO (AFP)

Mongolian-born 'yokozuna', or sumo grand champion, Asashoryu demonstrates the ceremonial performance to enter the ring, called the 'dohyo-iri,' at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, on January 7. Asashoryu showed his dominance Tuesday in a practice session as he makes a comeback from a two-tournament ban as punishment for his antics.

Controversial grand champion Asashoryu showed his dominance Tuesday in a practice session as he makes a comeback from a two-tournament ban as punishment for his antics.

At an official session before sumo authorities ahead of the next tournament starting Sunday, the 27-year-old Mongolian crushed Hakuho, a compatriot who is the only other wrestler to hold sumo's top rank of yokozuna.

Asashoryu won five out of seven rounds, submitting to the 22-year-old Hakuho only twice in noisy crashes.

Asashoryu, the fifth-ranked wrestler in the history of the ancient sport, is returning to the sumo ring for the first time in next week's tournament after being suspended in July.

He was punished for skipping a provincial exhibition tour citing injuries but then being caught on camera cheerfully playing a charity football match in Mongolia.

"I am glad that I was able to come to the practice," said the wrestler, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj.

"The number of the practice bouts today was not many, but I think we both performed good sumo today," Asashoryu told reporters.

Asashoryu, while praised for his performance on ring, has long struggled to win over sumo traditionalists, who accuse him of being too abrasive and disrespecting the ritualistic sport's code of conduct.

After he was banned from two bi-monthly tournaments and had severe restrictions placed on his personal life, the wrestler went home in late August citing a need for treatment of what was described by doctors as depression.

Asashoryu returned to Japan from Mongolia on November 30 and delivered a sombre apology for the controversy he has caused.

Hakuho, who was promoted to grand champion in May and has enjoyed a better image among Japanese fans than Asashoryu, said his senior rival did not show any sign of being away from the ring.

"He is strong. I mean, it may sound somewhat casual to tell a yokozuna, 'You are strong,' but he is strong," said Hakuho, whose real name is Munkhbat Davaajargal.

"The absence is not affecting him," Hakuho told reporters.

08/01/2008 07:39:19 UST

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