Ozeki Onosato and komusubi Abi lost their first bouts at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday, leaving two rank-and-filers as the only unbeaten wrestlers after four days.
Ozeki Onosato (R) loses to Wakamotoharu during the fourth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Edion Arena Osaka on March 12, 2025. (Kyodo)
Onosato (3-1), ranked highest among the six overnight leaders with three straight wins, lost his perfect record after Wakamotoharu (3-1) got the better of the opening clash and left the ozeki leaning backward at Edion Arena Osaka.
While Onosato had a brief moment of stepping forward, ensuing pushes to the throat by the No. 1 maegashira left the ozeki backpedaling again before he was ousted from the raised ring.
Abi (3-1) was unable to produce his usual ferocious shoves after receiving a slap to the face right away against Chiyoshoma (2-2). The komusubi swung the No. 2 maegashira around, trying to execute a forceful right armlock throw, but his opponent stayed on his feet before prevailing with a push-out.
Abi (back) loses to Chiyoshoma during the fourth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Edion Arena Osaka on March 12, 2025. (Kyodo)
While none of the yokozuna or wrestlers at three “sanyaku” ranks below has perfect records, new grand champion Hoshoryu (3-1) is showing little damage from his opening-day defeat. He matched a sharp opening drive from No. 2 maegashira Gonoyama (1-3) before quickly slapping him down to the clay.
Demotion-threatened “kadoban” ozeki Kotozakura (2-2) allowed a belt hold to No. 1 maegashira Wakatakakage (0-4) but used his superior frame to wrap up the rank-and-filer and pushed him out.
Oho (1-3) was second-best throughout as the new sekiwake was pushed out by No. 3 maegashira Takanosho (1-3), while another sekiwake, Daieisho (2-2), was easily grappled out by komusubi Kirishima (3-1), a former ozeki.
No. 9 maegashira Endo and No. 12 maegashira Onokatsu lead the rest after the pair secured their fourth straight wins convincingly, while No. 4 maegashira Takayasu and No. 16 maegashira Asakoryu were handed their first losses.
Related coverage:
Sumo: New yokozuna Hoshoryu edges Wakamotoharu for back-to-back win
Sumo: Hoshoryu outmuscles Wakatakakage for first win as yokozuna
Sumo: Electric Abi spoils Hoshoryu’s yokozuna debut in Osaka
AloJapan.com