Grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia defeated compatriot Hakuho in an extra title-deciding bout yesterday in Tokyo to win his 23rd Emperor's Cup at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Overcoming injuries, calls for his retirement and a death threat on the first day of the 15-day meet, Asashoryu won the title after being forced to an extra bout when he and Hakuho both finished the tournament with 14-1 records.

They finished tied after Hakuho beat Asashoryu in the final scheduled bout of the tournament.

That forced a one-off decider between the two Mongolians when Asashoryu got hold of Hakuho's belt and lifted his fellow grand champion out of the ring.

Asashoryu missed all or part of the last three tournaments because of injuries, leading to calls for his retirement.

But the 28-year-old quickly silenced his critics, getting off to a strong start in the New Year tourney, going undefeated until that penultimate bout against Hakuho.

He received a death threat on the opening day of the tournament. Tokyo police later arrested a 29-year-old man who posted "Coming to Ryogoku to kill Asashoryu," on a popular Japanese Internet forum.

"I'm back," a tearful Asashoryu said after receiving the Emperor's Cup from Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. "I knew there was no tomorrow in the final and did everything I could to win."

PREP BASKETBALL

GIRLS COACH FIRED AFTER WIN, E-MAIL

A Texas high school fired its girls basketball coach yesterday, the same day he distributed an e-mail and posted on a Web site that he disagreed with the school officials, who have publicly apologized for the team's 100-0 victory over an overmatched opponent.

Kyle Queal, the Covenant School's head of school, said former coach Micah Grimes "now only represents himself." Queal said he could not answer if the firing was a direct result of his e-mail and posting.

Grimes' e-mail and posting said, "In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Web site, I do not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls' basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed," Micah Grimes wrote in an e-mail sent to The Dallas Morning News. "We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."

On its Web site Thursday, the school posted a statement that said it "regrets the incident of January 13 and the outcome of the game with the Dallas Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team. It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened. This clearly does not reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition." It was signed by Queal and Todd Doshier, board chair of the Dallas school.

Grimes did not immediately respond to repeated e-mail requests for an interview.