TOKYO (AFP) - - After conquering the ancient Japanese sport of sumo, Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu's next ambition is to become president of his homeland, a report said Monday.

"I will be president of Mongolia," Asashoryu told Takaju Hinahata, the former sumo hairdresser whom the 28-year-old champion calls his "Dad in Japan," according to the Nikkan Sports tabloid.

Asashoryu, 28, said he planned to continue his sumo career until age 30 and run in national elections as early as 2012 as a stepping stone to the presidency, the newspaper said.

He sat next to the Mongolian in a motorcade Sunday after the wrestler clinched his 23rd trophy, which elevated him to number four in sumo history.

Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, defeated compatriot Hakuho in a playoff after earlier succumbing to his younger rival on the final day of the 15-day New Year tournament.

The victory came with Asashoryu facing calls to retire for skipping the November tournament and withdrawing from two earlier contests halfway through due to an injury.

Under sumo tradition a grand champion, or yokozuna, never takes a demotion but retires when his scores start declining.

Asashoryu's comeback made the front pages Monday of Japanese newspapers, which carried pictures of him raising his arms in victory or fighting back tears.

But his stable master Takasago issued a warning to Asashoryu, often branded as too brash by Japanese traditionalists.

"The media will report 'Asashoryu comes back' but you must never be arrogant," Takasago wrote in the Nikkan Sports.

"People are always watching your words and deeds," he said. "You should be modest over your victory."

The paper quoted a source close to the wrestler as saying "Asashoryu has strong feelings towards Genghis Khan," who built the sprawling Mongolian empire in the 13th century.

"That's why he has a strong wish to reach the top of the country," the daily quoted the anonymous source as saying.

Mongolia shook off seven decades of communist rule in 1990 and has since had a mostly smooth democracy, although last year it witnessed deadly riots over allegations of election fraud.

Is this article useful to you?