Sumo

Nagoya Basho: Terunofuji Beats Abi and Moves Closer to Winning the Title

The Mongolian grand champion, who lost to Onosato on the previous day at the Nagoya Basho, could wrap up the Emperor's Cup as early as Day 13.

by
Jim Armstrong
July 25, 2024

Yokozuna Terunofuji shrugged off the previous day's defeat to overpower sekiwake Abi on Thursday, July 25 and move a step closer to winning the championship at the Nagoya Basho.

In the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Terunofuji came bursting out of the face-off and used a bread-and-butter frontal force-out to dispatch Abi (6-6) while improving to 11-1 in the 15-day basho.

If Terunofuji wins on Day 13 and Hoshoryu, Takanosho and Churanoumi all lose, Terunofuji would wrap up his 10th Emperor's Cup with two days to spare.

Hoshoryu Outduels Kotozakura in Nagoya Basho Showdown

In other major bouts at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, Mongolian Hoshoryu used a spectacular head-lock throw combined with a right-leg kick to send fellow ozeki Kotozakura out while staying in the title chase by improving to 9-3.

It was a crucial loss for Kotozakura, who dropped to 8-4 and fell off the leaderboard.

May tournament winner and new sekiwake Onosato unleashed a last-gasp right arm throw of Takakeisho at the edge to move to 7-5 and improve his chances of getting a winning record.

Takakeisho dropped to 5-7 and must win all his remaining bouts to maintain his ozeki status for the next tournament.

Sixth-ranked maegashira Takanosho relied on a powerful arm thrust to the neck to send Ura flying off the raised ring to remain in contention at 9-3. No 4 maegashira Ura was handed his eighth loss.

Nagoya Basho Success Story: Churanoumi Stays in Contention

Further down the ranks, No 12 maegashira Churanoumi also kept his title hopes alive when he swatted down 16th-ranked Bushozan (6-6) to move to 9-3.

Ichiyamamoto knocked Wakatakakage out of the championship race when he executed an arm throw at the edge to dispatch his fellow rank-and-filer.

Former sekiwake Wakatakakage pushed Ichiyamamoto back to the edge but the No 11 maegashira dodged to his left and got a hand on the belt of his opponent to bundle him out.

Ichiyamamoto improved to 6-6 while No 14 maegashira Wakatakakage dropped to 8-4.

Hiradoumi Seals Winning Record

New komusubi Hiradoumi secured a winning record for the tournament when he deployed a barrage of arm thrusts to the upper body to send Gonoyama back and out.

Hiradoumi moved to 8-4 while third-ranked maegashira Gonoyama dropped to 3-9.

"I was able to go forward right from the face-off," Hiradoumi said. He added, "I got in a lot of quality practice before the tournament. My goal was to obtain a winning record and now I want to get double-digit wins."

Sekiwake Kirishima kept alive his hopes of returning to ozeki when he got a left-hand grip on the belt of Atamifuji (4-8) and hoisted the top maegashira out to go to 7-5.

If Kirishima can win his three remaining bouts, he could return to sumo's second-highest rank for the September tournament.

Former ozeki Shodai used a superb overarm throw at the edge to topple Kotoshoho and wrap up a winning record by improving to 8-4. No 7 maegashira Kotoshoho fell to 6-6.

"I was able to gain my preferred grip so I was able to overpower my opponent," No 10 maegashira Shodai said.

Shodai added, "I was able to react well at the face-off in order to fight my brand of sumo today."

Veteran Tamawashi (6-6) showed he still has incredible strength when he got a double-handed grip of the belt of Nishikifuji (5-7) and lifted the No 17 maegashira up and out.

Ninth-ranked maegashira Tamawashi will turn 40 in November and has said he wants to win a third Emperor's Cup before he retires.

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.