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Hoshoryu Throws Down Asanoyama to Move into a Tie for the Lead at Nagoya Basho

Sekiwake Hoshoryu is the highest-ranked grappler among the four leaders at the 15-day Nagoya Basho. The others are Nishikigi, Tamawashi and Hokutofuji.

Sekiwake Hoshoryu overpowered former ozeki Asanoyama on Saturday, July 15 to move into a four-way tie for the lead at the Nagoya Basho.

In the day's penultimate bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Mongolian Hoshoryu deployed a textbook overarm throw at the edge to send the No 4 maegashira sprawling to the dirt surface.

Hoshoryu, who is bidding for promotion to ozeki in this tournament, improved to 6-1. He would need at least 12 wins in the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament to earn a likely promotion to sumo's second-highest rank.

Asanoyama, who went an impressive 12-3 when he made his return after a prolonged suspension for violating COVID-19 safety measures in May, has not looked as dominant this time out and dropped to 4-3.

Overnight leader Nishikigi lost his first bout of the tournament when komusubi Kotonowaka got a double inside grip and quickly forced the top maegashira out of the ring. Kotonowaka improved to 5-2.

Nagoya Basho
Kotonowaka pushes Nishikigi out of the raised ring. (SANKEI)

The result left Nishikigi tied with Hoshoryu and rank-and-filers Tamawashi and Hokutofuji for the lead at 6-1.

Despite the loss, the 32-year-old Nishikigi is still on track for his first promotion to the three elite sanyaku ranks below yokozuna.

Nagoya Basho
Mitakeumi (left) competes against Kirishima. (KYODO)

Mitakeumi Collects First Win of Nagoya Basho

In other major bouts, No 2 maegashira Mitakeumi dealt new ozeki Kirishima his third loss with a force-out victory. 

Former ozeki Mitakeumi improved to 1-6 while Kirishima, who sat out the first three days with injury, dropped to a record of two wins, three losses and two absences.

Kirishima needs at least eight wins in this tournament to avoid becoming a kadoban relegation-threatened ozeki in the next basho.

The tournament's two other sekiwake wrestlers seeking promotion to ozeki ― Wakamotoharu and Daieisho ― both won their Day 7 bouts.

Wakamotoharu swatted down komusubi Abi (3-4) to improve to 5-2. Daieisho also picked up his fifth win after overpowering No 4 maegashira Ura, who dropped to 4-3.

Nagoya Basho
Tamawashi (right) grapples with Hokuseiho on Day 7. (ⒸSANKEI)

No 7 maegashira Tamawashi kept pace with the leaders at 6-1 when he shoved out sixth-ranked Hokuseiho, who fell to 3-4.

Tamawashi, who will turn 39 in November, is fighting with the kind of determination that allowed him to win the Emperor's Cup in the 2022 Autumn Basho in September. 

Nagoya Basho
Hokutofuji maintains his balance after overpowering Tsurugisho in a Nagoya Basho bout. (ⒸSANKEI)

Hokutofuji, a ninth-ranked maegashira, swatted down No 11 Tsurugisho (1-6) to maintain a share of the lead.


Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.

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