Ukrainian wrestler Aonishiki said sake never tasted so good as the 21-year-old savoured his Emperor's Cup triumph at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka on Sunday that put him on the brink of promotion to the sport's second-highest rank.

Aonishiki, whose real name is Danylo Yavhusishyn, became the first wrestler from Ukraine to win an elite-level tournament in the ancient Japanese sport with his win over Mongolian yokozuna Hoshoryu.

Aonishiki is the second Ukraine-born professional sumo wrestler after Serhii Sokolovskyi, who competes as Shishi.

After winning the title in only his 14th tournament, Aonishiki is set to rise from sekiwake to ozeki, though he told reporters on Monday he was not thinking about promotion just yet.

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