Latest news with #Emperor'sCup
The Star
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cools hopes to shape M'sian football's future with exploits in J.League
PETALING JAYA: For Dion Cools (pic), a move to Japan's prestigious is not just a bold step in his professional career. It's also a message to the entire Malaysian football ecosystem - dream bigger, go further. The national rightback recently signed with Cerezo Osaka, making history as the first Malaysian to play in the One. But to him, the milestone extends beyond personal achievement. 'Being the first Malaysian in the isn't just a personal milestone. It puts Malaysian football on the map in a serious way,' said the 29-year-old. 'I want young players back home to see that it's possible to break through, to compete, and to thrive. We're not just telling a story – we're building the future of football, both here and back home.' Cools, who has previously played in Belgium, Thailand and Denmark, described the environment at Cerezo as world-class where discipline and attention to detail are second nature. 'It's been an incredible journey so far. The environment is structured and focused. Everything from training to match prep is designed to help players improve every single day. It sharpens you, both mentally and physically.' Cools has so far played two matches with Cerezo and also one in the Emperor's Cup. While his focus remains on performing in Japan, Cools is also deeply committed to using this platform to uplift the next generation in Malaysia, especially at the grassroots level. 'Grassroots football is where everything starts. I've seen the impact it can have, especially through Adidas' past initiatives like the Adidas Malaysia Girls Football Program and the recent grassroots event with Manchester United,' said Cools, who is sponsored by Adidas. 'Those events brought international and local players together to coach and inspire young talents. The energy on the ground was powerful. 'Moments like that matter. They give kids belief and show that the dream is real. If my journey can help send that message, I'm all in.'
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cools hopes he can shape Malaysian football's future with exploits in J.League
Dion Cools during training session with Buriram United. - Photo by Buriram United PETALING JAYA: For Dion Cools, a move to Japan's prestigious is not just a bold step in his professional career. It's also a message to the entire Malaysian football ecosystem - dream bigger, go further. The national rightback recently signed with Cerezo Osaka, making history as the first Malaysian to play in the One. But to him, the milestone extends beyond personal achievement. "Being the first Malaysian in the isn't just a personal milestone. It puts Malaysian football on the map in a serious way," said the 29-year-old. "I want young players back home to see that it's possible to break through, to compete, and to thrive. We're not just telling a story - we're building the future of football, both here and back home." Cools, who has previously played in Belgium, Thailand and Denmark, described the environment at Cerezo as world-class where discipline and attention to detail are second nature. "It's been an incredible journey so far. The environment is structured and focused. Everything from training to match prep is designed to help players improve every single day. It sharpens you, both mentally and physically." Cools has so far played two matches with Cerezo and also one in the Emperor's Cup. While his focus remains on performing in Japan, Cools is also deeply committed to using this platform to uplift the next generation in Malaysia, especially at the grassroots level. "Grassroots football is where everything starts. I've seen the impact it can have, especially through Adidas' past initiatives like the Adidas Malaysia Girls Football Program and the recent grassroots event with Manchester United," said Cools, who is sponsored by Adidas. "Those events brought international and local players together to coach and inspire young talents. The energy on the ground was powerful. "Moments like that matter. They give kids belief and show that the dream is real. If my journey can help send that message, I'm all in."
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Nagoya Sumo Tournament Winner Kotoshoho Climbs Ladder Following Elder-Brother-Like Kotozakura
Kotoshoho, a rank-and-file wrestler in the makuuchi division, cemented his name on Sunday as the first champion of a Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after the event venue in the city was relocated to the IG Arena in Kita Ward, Nagoya. The 25-year-old wrestler belonging to the Sadogatake Stable won the Emperor's Cup while holding the east maegashira 15th rank, a lower standing, and without experience in the elevated sanyaku positions of ozeki, sekiwake and komusubi. 'I still feel that my emotions have not caught up with reality,' he said with a smile in an interview after winning the championship. 'But I'm glad.' Kotoshoho is from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. He took up sumo in his childhood and had practiced hard as a member of a local sumo group of boys. Ozeki Kotozakura, 27, who is two years senior of Kotoshoho, also participated in the boys' group. Because of the personal tie, Kotoshoho had often visited the Sadogatake Stable for fun since his childhood. Stablemaster Sadogatake, who is former sekiwake Kotonowaka and the father of Kotozakura, recalled his impression of the boy who became Kotoshoho, saying, 'He was a soft kid with a big body.' As did Kotozakura, Kotoshoho enrolled at Saitama Sakae High School, which has a sumo club that is known to be strong. He debuted as a professional sumo wrestler in the 2017 Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. He was promoted to the juryo division in two years and changed his shikona wrestler name from Kototebakari to Kotoshoho. The kanji character of 'sho' was taken from his deceased grandmother's posthumous Buddhist name, and the kanji character of 'ho' means a mountain peak — indicating his determination to reach the summit of the sumo world. Kotoshoho is a strongly built man who is 190 centimeters tall. In 2020, the year following his promotion to the juryo division, he was again promoted to the makuuchi division. However, his record was unremarkable partly due to leg injuries. Other oyakata coaches in the stable encouraged him to scale the ladder further. 'You are no longer a junior wrestler,' one of them once told him. 'When can you climb up to the sanyaku positions?' In the 2023 New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, Kotoshoho won many matches, but he lost in the championship-deciding bout between two wrestlers with the same number of victories against Takakeisho, who is now oyakata coach Minatogawa, on the final day of the tourney. As a result, Kotoshoho fell one step shy of summiting the sumo world. 'My basic capability is insufficient,' he said at the time. 'I want to be stronger.' Using many regrets as motivation, Kotoshoho has practiced hard. Stablemaster Sadogatake said, 'I shed tears in delight. Kotoshoho made great efforts spurred by Kotozakura's achievements.' Kotozakura won the championship in last year's September Grand Sumo Tournament. The stablemaster also expressed his desire that the two wrestlers will grow further, saying, 'I hope Kotoshoho's championship will prompt Kotozakura to achieve greater records.' In a parade to celebrate his championship, Kotoshoho asked Kotozakura, whom he has respected as an elder brother, to sit next to him in the car as the holder of the championship flag. Kotoshoho beamed huge smiles to spectators during the parade.
The Mainichi
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Nagoya victory still sinking in for 1st-time champion Kotoshoho
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament winner Kotoshoho said Monday he was still coming to grips with his first top-division championship. Competing as a rank-and-file No. 15 maegashira, the 25-year-old Chiba Prefecture native lifted the Emperor's Cup with a 13-2 record Sunday following his win over rising Ukrainian star Aonishiki. "It still feels strange to think that I won the championship," Kotoshoho said during a press conference at his Sadogatake stable's base in Nagoya. He suffered his only losses back-to-back on the fourth and fifth days before closing out the 15-day tournament on a 10-match winning streak, culminating in his victory against the 21-year-old Aonishiki, who entered the final day trailing Kotoshoho by one bout. Kotoshoho became the inaugural champion at Nagoya's state-of-the-art IG Arena, which was opened ahead of the 15-day tournament. His win streak included a Day 13 takedown of new yokozuna Onosato, earning Kotoshoho his first career "kinboshi" award for beating a grand champion as a rank-and-file wrestler. "I wasn't nervous and was able to focus on my opening attack when I stepped onto the ring," he said of the streak. "I was able to concentrate more in the second half of the tournament." The newly crowned champion said he was able to "use the lessons I learned" from a previous title tilt at the 2023 New Year tournament that ended with his final-day defeat to ozeki Takakeisho. Blessed with a 190-centimeter, 167-kilogram physique, Kotoshoho was tipped for big things after entering the sumo world in November 2017 out of one of the sport's renowned nurseries, Saitama Sakae High School. He debuted in the elite makuuchi division in July 2020 and achieved a career-high ranking of maegashira No. 3 in January 2021, but has largely struggled to live up to the high expectations and has bounced between the top two divisions. Despite dealing with pain in his right thigh, the powerfully built grappler got on a roll in Nagoya by committing to his brand of attacking sumo. He indicated the championship would not affect his approach to the next grand tournament in September. "I want to do what I need to do without getting carried away," he said.
Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Asahi Shimbun
SUMO/ Kotoshoho wins 1st championship at Nagoya basho in new arena
Kotoshoho defeats Aonishiki to win his first championship on July 27 at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament held at IG Arena. (Masaaki Kobayashi) Rank-and-filer Kotoshoho stole the spotlight in the first tournament featuring two yokozuna in four years, capturing his first top-division championship on July 27 at the newly relocated Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament held at IG Arena. The 25-year-old Chiba Prefecture-born wrestler, whose real name is Toshiki Tebakari, defeated Aonishiki, a maegashira No. 1, on the final day to seal the Emperor's Cup with an impressive 13-2 record. Kotoshoho's triumph marks the first time a maegashira wrestler has won a makuuchi division tournament since Takerufuji's surprise victory in the spring tournament last year. Takerufuji was a maegashira No. 17, the lowest among all wrestlers in the makuuchi division. Kotoshoho, a maegashira No. 15, enjoyed a championship run notable for his victories over opponents from the top ranks, including yokozuna, sekiwake and komusubi. He defeated newly minted yokozuna Onosato on Day 13 in a stirring showdown. The 190-centimeter, 167-kilogram rikishi utilized his favored migi-yotsu (right-hand inside grip) and yori (driving) techniques to overpower opponents throughout the 15-day tournament. Having made his professional debut in the November 2017 Kyushu tournament while still a third-year student at Saitama Sakae High School, Kotoshoho entered the top division in July 2020. Adding to his family accomplishments, Kotoshoho's younger brother, Kotoeiho, made his top-division debut at this same tournament. The two wrestlers, both from the Sadogatake stable, became the 13th pair of brothers in history to compete together in the makuuchi division.
