Sumo

Elite Division Rookie Takerufuji Grabs the Lead at Spring Basho

Yokozuna Terunofuji, who won the New Year Basho, was forced to pull out of the 15-day Spring Basho due to an injury after three straight losses in Osaka.

Published on

March 16, 2024

Jim Armstrong

Makuuchi division rookie Takerufuji emerged as the sole leader on Saturday, March 16, a day when lone yokozuna Terunofuji was forced to pull out of the Spring Basho due to injury.

After losing his third straight bout on Friday to drop to 2-4, Terunofuji really had no other option but to withdraw from the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.

The official reason given by his Isegahama stable was lower back pain and other health-related issues.

"He's done everything he can, but he is also dealing with fatigue and all sorts of issues," stablemaster Isegahama said, according to Kyodo News.

*Yokozuna Terunofuji receives the Emperor's Cup from Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku after winning the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on January 28 in Tokyo. (KYODO)*

Terunofuji won the New Year tournament in January and vowed he would do his utmost to win his 10th Emperor's Cup in the Spring Basho. But he just wasn't up to the task.

It is the 20th time the 32-year-old grappler has pulled out of a grand tournament. His withdrawal means that his Day 7 opponent, No 4 maegashira Tobizaru, improved to 4-3 with a win by default.

During his 16 meets as yokozuna, Terunofuji has won five titles. The grand champion will now regroup and attempt a comeback in the next tournament in May.

Takerufuji Remains Unbeaten at the Spring Basho

Further down the ranks, rising star Takerufuji, a No 17 maegashira, used a frontal force-out to dispatch No 12 Shonnanoumi (5-2) to stay undefeated at 7-0.

Eighth-ranked maegashira Onosho ensured Takerufuji would take the sole lead when he defeated another rising young star, Onosato (6-1).

*Onosho (left) triumphs over Onosato. (©SANKEI)*

Onosho improved to 5-2 when he deployed a beltless arm throw to send out Onosato, knocking the No 5 maegashira out of the lead with his first loss.

Mongolian ozeki Hoshoryu kept in the title chase when he used a frontal push-down technique to defeat komusubi Abi. That gave both wrestlers a record of 5-2.

*Kotonowaka (left) escorts Meisei out of the raised ring. (©SANKEI)*

Kotonowaka Raises Record to 5-2

Newly promoted ozeki Kotonowaka also picked up an important fifth win when he unleashed a powerful arm lock to throw down Meisei, a No 2 maegashira who dropped to 2-5.

In the day's final bout, Takakeisho deployed a thrust-down technique to defeat Nishikigi and remain in the large pack of wrestlers at 5-2. Komusubi Nishikigi fell to 1-6.

*Takakeisho defeats Nishikigi on Day 7. (©SANKEI)*

There was more misery for ozeki Kirishima, who was shoved out by Takanosho to fall to 2-5. No 3 maegashira Takanosho, who defeated Terunofuji the previous day, picked up his third win against four losses.

"I'm getting much more confidence after beating Terunofuji and that helped today," Takanosho said.

He added, "I just tried to stay aggressive and move forward.”

Sekiwake Wakamotoharu denied Ura a chance to grip his belt and then calmly shoved the Osaka native off the raised ring to improve to 5-2. Top maegashira Ura fell to 3-4.