TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Four-time makuuchi division champion Terunofuji was officially named sumo's 73rd yokozuna on Wednesday, as the Mongolian became the first wrestler in four and a half years to be promoted to the ancient sport's highest rank.

       Terunofuji, who narrowly missed out on a fifth title on Sunday at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, where he finished with a 14-1 record, is the first new grand champion since Japanese-born Kisenosato in 2017.

       The Japan Sumo Association's board of directors, meeting in an extraordinary session, made the 29-year-old's promotion official after he received unanimous support from the JSA's Yokozuna Deliberation Council on Monday.

       The promotion caps an epic comeback for Terunofuji, who wrestled at the sport's second-highest rank of ozeki before injuries to both knees saw him fall into the fifth-tier jonidan division in March 2019.

       He then battled back to the sport's elite makuuchi division and won his second Emperor's Cup on his July 2020 return before also claiming the title this March and May.

       Terunofuji entered the Nagoya tourney needing to win his third straight championship or post a championship-caliber record in order to earn promotion. On Sunday, he squared off with yokozuna Hakuho, who was also on 14-0, to decide the tournament winner but was thrown down in the finale at Dolphins Arena.

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