Rising star Onosato showed his savvy against Terunofuji on Wednesday, handing the yokozuna his first loss through 11 days of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Onosato (6-5) a 24-year-old sekiwake who in May became the least experienced grand sumo tournament champion, met the in-form yokozuna head-on in the day’s final bout at Dolphins Arena.
A day after a vintage overpowering charge earned him his 10th win, Terunofuji tried that route again but leaned too far forward in search of a hold on the right side of Onosato’s belt.
When the yokozuna began to lunge, Onosato instantly abandoned his own attempt at a hold and instead used his left hand to shove Terunofuji from behind the shoulder, and sent him crashing to the clay.
Onosato (R) defeats Terunofuji during their bout on the 11th day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Dolphins Arena in Nagoya, central Japan, on July 24, 2024. (Kyodo)
“I was completely beaten on the opening charge, but I could get a good result because I kept thinking, ‘Move, move,'” Onosato said. “It’s been a hard tournament, but it’s not over.”
The defeat cost Terunofuji a chance to go three wins clear with four days remaining at the 15-day meet as his closest pursuer, ozeki Kotozakura (8-3) also lost.
Sekiwake Kirishima (6-5) kept his bid for a return to the ozeki ranks alive by exploiting a moment of hesitation to hand Kotozakura his third defeat.
When Kotozakura found himself being shoved backward after the opening charge, he allowed an opening and gave Kirishima free access to the right side of his belt. The sekiwake took what was offered and used this advantage to spin the ozeki, outflank him and force him out.
Kirishima (L) forces out Kotozakura at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Dolphins Arena on July 24, 2024. (Kyodo)
Having been newly demoted from ozeki, Kirishima gets one chance to reclaim the sport’s second-highest rank with 10 or more wins, and after his Tuesday loss to Terunofuji, could not afford another defeat.
Ozeki Hoshoryu joined Kotozakura at 8-3 with a strong recovery against sekiwake Abi (6-5), who was shoving him backward by the throat.
Three rank-and-file maegashira wrestlers also won to sit at 8-3, a pair of former sekiwake, No. 6 Takanosho and No. 14 Wakatakakage, and No. 12 Churanoumi.
Demotion threatened “kadoban” ozeki Takakeisho gave fellow pusher-and-thruster Gonoyama (3-8) a master class to earn his fifth win. A four-time champion, Takakeisho needs three more victories here to avoid being demoted to sekiwake.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Terunofuji overwhelms Kirishima to win 10 straight at Nagoya
Sumo: Terunofuji fends off Daieisho for 9th straight win at Nagoya
Sumo: Terunofuji seals winning record after 8 straight wins at Nagoya
AloJapan.com