Sumo

Asanoyama Returns to Kyushu Basho, Deals Takakeisho a Blow to His Promotion Chances

In his first match at the Kyushu Basho, former ozeki Asanoyama used an arm throw to hand the promotion-chasing ozeki his second straight defeat in Fukuoka.

by
Jim Armstrong
November 19, 2023

Top maegashira Asanoyama returned to action to defeat promotion-chasing ozeki Takakeisho on Sunday, November 19 in one of several big upsets on Day 8 of the Kyushu Basho.

Returning from a lower body injury, former ozeki Asanoyama fought off a series of thrusts to the upper body and got a left-hand grip on the belt of Takakeisho before using an underarm throw at the edge to defeat his opponent.

Both wrestlers toppled off the raised ring but the referee correctly ruled that Takakeisho touched down first.

Crowd favorite Asanoyama is at one win, no losses and seven absences. Takakeisho suffered his second straight loss and dropped to 5-3 at the midway point of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

His chances of being promoted to yokozuna took a major hit and he can ill afford further losses if he hopes to win his second straight Emperor’s Cup.

In other major bouts, fourth-ranked maegashira Nishikigi used a powerful armlock throw to defeat Mongolian ozeki Hoshoryu and give both wrestlers a record of 6-2.

Kyushu Basho Title Chase: Ichiyamamoto Leads the Pack

The upset of Hoshoryu and overnight co-leader Kotonowaka means that rank-and-filer Ichiyamamoto emerged as the sole leader of the tournament.

No 14 maegashira Ichiyamamoto earlier improved to 7-1 after using a thrust-down technique to defeat fellow rank-and-filer Takarafuji, who fell to 2-6.

With seven days remaining, a large group of nine wrestlers trail Ichiyamamoto with 6-2 records.

Among those is Kirishima, the only ozeki to win on Day 8. The Mongolian grappler spun Hokutofuji around after the face-off and shoved the komusubi out to his sixth loss.

Diminutive No 5 maegashira Midorifuji deployed a spectacular beltless arm throw to defeat the much larger Myogiryu to move to 6-2. Myogiryu, a ninth-ranked maegashira, dropped to 3-5.

Atamifuji Raises Record to 6-2

Rising star Atamifuji, who contended for the title in the Autumn Basho in September and is currently a No 8 maegashira, kept right in thick of the championship race when he prevailed with an arm-lock throw to defeat sixth-ranked Takanosho (3-5) and improve to 6-2.

Former ozeki Shodai knocked Kotonowaka out of the lead when he used several powerful arm thrusts to send the sekiwake out to his second loss. No 2 maegashira Shodai is at an even 4-4.

Fourth-ranked Gonoyama, who beat Takakeisho on the previous day, claimed another high-ranked opponent when he got an inside position and shoved out sekiwake Wakamotoharu to pick up his fourth win against four losses.

Wakamotoharu, who was simply overwhelmed at the face-off, dropped to 3-5.

Komusubi Abi (3-5) displayed superb footwork on the edge when he dodged to his side and swatted down Daieisho to hand the sekiwake his third loss against five wins.

No 10 maegashira Ryuden used a superb underarm throw to topple seventh-ranked Hokuseiho to stay one off the pace at 6-2.

Further down the ranks, veteran grappler Tamawashi and top-division debutante Churanoumi are also at 6-2 after winning their Day 8 bouts.