Veteran Tamawashi upset grand champion and fellow Mongolian Terunofuji, Mitakeumi suffered his first loss as ozeki and unheralded rank-and-filer Takayasu emerged as the sole leader on Thursday, March 17, the fifth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day’s final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, No. 2 maegashira Tamawashi stunned the lone yokozuna with a frontal push-down win to improve to 2-3 while handing Terunofuji his second loss of the 15-day basho.
Tamawashi also beat Terunofuji in the New Year tourney in January and said that experience helped him on Thursday.
“I just tried to do the same thing,” the 37-year-old Tamawashi said. “It was all about the face-off. I came out strong and that was key.”
Winning maegashira Takayasu stands tall against Takarafuji.
In-form No. 7 maegashira Takayasu swatted down fifth-ranked maegashira Takarafuji (1-4) to maintain his perfect record at 5-0 and move into sole possession of the lead.
Takayasu had to sit out the previous tournament when it was determined a member of his stable tested positive for COVID-19 and the rest seems to have served him well.
The former sekiwake has been taking advantage of his upper body strength to overpower opponents.
A large group of eight wrestlers are one win off the pace at 4-1.
Kiribayama (left) defeats Mitakeumi to improve to 4-1.
Mongolian Kiribayama handed Mitakeumi his first loss as ozeki to put both wrestlers in the chase pack at 4-1.
Fourth-ranked maegashira Kiribayama worked Mitakeumi to the edge, got a grip of his belt and shoved his opponent out to give both wrestlers a record of 4-1.
“I got a grip on the belt and that set the stage,” Kiribayama said. “It’s still early but I’ll just focus on my brand of sumo and hope to keep the momentum going.”
Mitakeumi couldn’t get a grip on the belt of Kiribayama and was unable to establish a thrusting attack en route to his first defeat at the sport’s second-highest rank.
Shodai (left) grapples with Onosho on Day 5. ( ⒸSANKEI)
In other major bouts, ozeki Shodai finally picked up his first win of the tournament when he got a left-hand grip on the belt of Onosho and used an arm throw to send the No. 3 maegashira sprawling.
There was a huge sense of relief for Shodai who needs a winning record in this tournament to keep his ozeki status for the May tournament. Onosho fell to 2-3.
Ozeki Takakeisho, also in need of a winning record to stay in the ozeki ranks, used his trademark thrusting technique to overpower third-ranked maegashira Meisei and earn his third win against a pair of losses.
Meisei dropped to 1-4.
Newly promoted sekiwake Abi won his fourth straight bout when he dodged to his side at the edge and hauled Takanosho (1-4) out by the arm to move to 4-1.
Wakatakakage, also making his debut at sekiwake, overpowered Mongolian Hoshoryu with a frontal force-out at the edge to stay one win off the pace at 4-1.
Komusubi Hoshoryu saw his two-bout winning streak come to an end and fell to 2-3.
Daieisho slaps Ura en route to victory. ⒸSANKEI)
In a showdown of top maegashira, Daieisho continued his impressive run when he used a series of powerful slaps and thrusts to the upper body to send Ura toppling off the raised ring.
Daieisho, who has already beaten Terunofuji and Shodai, improved to 3-2 while Ura fell to 1-4.
Up-and-coming grappler Kotonowaka got both arms around Okinoumi and drove the seventh-ranked maegashira out to pick up his fourth win against a lone loss. No. 7 maegashira Okinoumi is off to a sluggish 1-4 start.
It was a long time coming but No. 13 maegashira Chiyomaru picked up career win No. 500 when he swatted down Terutsuyoshi for his first win of the tournament. Eleventh-ranked maegashira Terutsuyoshi fell to 2-3.
Follow Jim’s daily reports on the sumo Spring Basho here.
Author: Jim Armstrong
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