Yokozuna Hakuho and ozeki-ranked Baruto and Harumafuji won their bouts on July 14 to make it through the first week of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament unbeaten, while ozeki Kisenosato fell to his second defeat.
Hakuho bashed No. 3 maegashira Wakakoyu at the face-off, then stepped to the side to reload for a new attack. But before he could even commit to it, Wakakoyu was roaring past him and fell to the ground. The yokozuna hardly broke a sweat.
Baruto unleashed a beautiful uwate-nage, or overhanded throw, that sent No. 2 maegashira Aoiyama flying out of the ring. It was the first time the two Europeans--Baruto is from Estonia and Aoiyama is from Bulgaria--have faced each other, and Baruto pretty clearly showed who is the boss.
Aoiyama, wrestling at his highest rank ever, is 1-6.
Harumafuji had some difficulty executing his attack, but stayed in focus and dropped No. 3 maegashira Shohozan at the edge of the ring to keep his unbeaten record. Though he wasn't especially impressive, he was firmly in control--and that is where he needs to be at this point in the tournament.
Kotoshogiku drove komusubi Toyonoshima out in a lopsided match. Kotoshogiku had more speed coming out, and though he slipped at one point, he quickly regained his composure and went right back on the attack. With only one loss, he is in a good position. Toyonoshima is 1-6, and struggling hard.
Bulgaria's Kotooshu deftly bottled up top maegashira Kyokutenho, the defending champion, and eventually lifted him back and over the edge. Kyokutenho, who hasn't won yet, got inside but was unable to do anything with the hold as Kotooshu worked him off balance with a double-handed grip of his own. Kotooshu is also 6-1, his sole loss so far to Goeido.
Kisenosato was the only ozeki loser of the day. He couldn't keep his feet under him after a weak face-off, and sekiwake Goeido moved in nicely to throw him down as he faltered. It was a bad bout all the way through for Kisenosato, and brings him down to 5-2. Goeido is 4-3.
Kakuryu, fighting his second tournament at ozeki, slipped off to his right and sekiwake Tochiozan plopped to the ground immediately after their face-off. Kakuryu needed the win, and got it fair and square, but it is considered bad form for an ozeki to use a trick right off the bat to gain advantage, and he seemed a little embarrassed as he accepted the winning prize after the bout.
Kakuryu is 5-2 and Tochiozan is 1-6.
Komusubi Myogiryu (4-3) sent top maegashira Aminishiki (2-5) out after Aminishiki lost his concentration and started missing his target when he was thrusting. Myogiryu kept up the pressure and won as Aminishiki stumbled to the side.
- « Prev
- 1
- Next »
