TOKYO — Former sumo grand champion Taiho, whose 32 championships are the most in the history of Japan's ancient sport, has died at age 72. Taiho, whose real name was Koki Naya, died of heart disease Saturday afternoon at a Tokyo hospital, the Japan Sumo Association announced. Taiho won 32 Emperor's Cups. Born on the Russian island of Sakhalin, Taiho made his ring debut in the 1956 Autumn Basho and won his first championship at the Kyushu tournament in 1960. Following the 1961 autumn tourney, he was promoted to yokozuna along with rival Kashiwado, setting the stage for an epic decade. He retired in 1971. — Agencies
