Sumo

Hoshoryu Tosses Down Churanoumi to Stay Tied for the Lead at the Kyushu Basho

In Fukuoka, the Mongolian ozeki is bidding for his second Emperor's Cup at the 15-day Kyushu Basho and his first at sumo's second-highest rank.

Published on

November 18, 2024

Jim Armstrong

Ozeki Hoshoryu dominated rank-and-filer Churanoumi on Monday, November 18 to finish Day 9 of the Kyushu Basho in a three-way tie for the lead.

Mongolian Hoshoryu deployed a powerful arm thrust to the upper body shortly after the face-off and then got a grip on the belt of his opponent before using an overarm throw to send the fourth-ranked maegashira sprawling to the first surface.

Hoshoryu improved to 8-1, thus wrapping up a winning record for the 15-day meet. Churanoumi put up little resistance and fell to 2-7.

Ozeki Kotozakura also stayed tied for the lead at 8-1 when he used a push-down technique to defeat fourth-ranked maegashira Oshoma, who simply lost his footing and dropped to 2-7.

*Kotozakura (left) overpowers Oshoma to earn his eighth victory of the meet. (©SANKEI)*

In the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, newly promoted ozeki Onosato outmuscled Wakamotoharu and shoved the komusubi over the edge after getting a right-handed hold of the belt to stay one win off the pace at 7-2. Wakamotoharu fell to 5-4.

*Takanosho defeats Roga on Day 9. (©SANKEI)*

Takanosho Remains Tied for the Kyushu Basho Lead

In other major bouts, sixth-ranked maegashira Takanosho thrust down No 8 maegashira Roga (4-5) to wrap up a winning record for the tournament and stay atop the leaderboard at 8-1.

"I'm glad I picked up a winning record so quickly," said Takanosho. "I've been moving forward well. This tournament is far from over, so I'm not thinking too far ahead. I just want to maintain my concentration."

No 3 maegashira Abi stayed in the large group at 7-2 when he deployed his bread-and-butter thrusting attack to send sekiwake Daieisho (5-4) backpedaling over the straw ridge.

March tournament winner Takerufuji, a No 16 maegashira, slapped down veteran Sadanoumi to move to 7-2. No 12 maegashira Sadanoumi lost his fourth straight bout to drop to 3-6.

*Takarafuji (right) in action against Onokatsu on Day 9. (©SANKEI)*

Takarafuji, a No 10 maegashira, swatted down Onokatsu to win his seventh straight bout to improve to 7-2. No 15 maegashira Onokatsu held a share of the lead coming into Day 9 but dropped to 7-2 with the loss.

Wakatakakage Outduels Shodai

After two false starts, No 2 maegashira Wakatakakage slipped his right arm inside on Shodai and calmly waltzed the komusubi out over the edge to improve to 6-3. Former ozeki Shodai fell to 3-6.

Sekiwake Kirishima picked up a confidence-boosting win when he took advantage of superb footwork on the raised ring before shoving out the much larger Atamifuji to move to 3-6. Third-ranked maegashira Atamifuji (4-5) lost his fifth straight match.

Kirishima lost his first five bouts of the tournament but has now won three of his last four as he bids to salvage a respectable record in the last tournament of the year.

Ninth-ranked maegashira Takayasu used an overarm throw at the center of the ring to defeat crowd favorite and No 7 maegashira Endo, giving both grapplers a record of 5-4.