Koizumi praises Takanohana for winning despite injured knee

Koizumi praises Takanohana for winning despite injured knee

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi struggles with the 40.8-kilogram prime minister's cup before handing it to yokozuna Takanohana on May 27 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Takanohana clinched his 22nd Emperor's Cup in a playoff on the final day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament despite his injured right knee. ''You endured the pain and hung in there. It was moving. Congratulations,'' Koizumi said, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.

Koizumi praises Takanohana for winning despite injured knee

Koizumi praises Takanohana for winning despite injured knee

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi struggles with the 40.8-kilogram prime minister's cup before handing it to yokozuna Takanohana on May 27 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Takanohana clinched his 22nd Emperor's Cup in a playoff on the final day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament despite his injured right knee. ''You endured the pain and hung in there. It was moving. Congratulations,'' Koizumi said, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.

Koizumi praises Takanohana for winning despite injured knee

Koizumi praises Takanohana for winning despite injured knee

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi struggles with the 40.8-kilogram prime minister's cup before handing it to yokozuna Takanohana on May 27 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Takanohana clinched his 22nd Emperor's Cup in a playoff on the final day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament despite his injured right knee. ''You endured the pain and hung in there. It was moving. Congratulations,'' Koizumi said, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.