Paris summary and day 2 results

[Moti Dichne]

The Grand Sumo Paris koen concluded on the 14th at the Accor Arena in Paris. This was the third Paris koen in 31 years, and on both the opening and closing days, the venue, with a capacity of approximately 15,000, displayed a "Sold Out" banner, as sumo fans in the city cheered on the rikishis' efforts. This was the second consecutive year that a tournament has been held overseas at the invitation of the host country, following last year's performance in London. In the tournament itself on the 14th, Yokozuna Houshouryuu defeated  Takayasu by yorikiri in the final. In the yusho match against Ozeki Kotozakura, who had advanced from the tournament on day 1, Kotozakura won by yorikiri to claim the yusho. Kotozakura expressed his gratitude for the cheers, saying, "Sumo is truly ingrained in the culture, and everyone cheered so much as if it were their home country's sport, which allowed us to perform freely and enjoyably." At the closing ceremony, Houshouryuu greeted the audience in French, saying, "See you again." "I received such warm support, so I want to train hard again when I return to Japan," he said, expressing his renewed determination.