Sumo

New Year Basho: Hoshoryu Keeps Title Hopes Alive with One-Sided Win over Sole Leader Kinbozan

The Mongolian ozeki took advantage of poor footwork by the rank-and-filer on Day 12 of the New Year Basho to pull within one win of Kinbozan.

Published on

January 23, 2025

Jim Armstrong

Ozeki Hoshoryu upended sole leader Kinbozan on Thursday, January 23 to ensure there is plenty of drama left in the New Year Basho.

In the day's featured bout, Hoshoryu came bursting out of the face-off and then swatted Kinbozan down to hand the man from Kazakhstan his second loss of the 15-day tournament.

Mongolian Hoshoryu also kept his title hopes alive and improved to 9-3 while Kinobozan, who was guilty of poor footwork after the initial charge, dropped to 10-2.

No 14 maegashira Kinbozan is bidding for his first top division title. Hoshoryu, who came into the tournament as a potential candidate to earn promotion to yokozuna, likely won't achieve that but could still win his second Emperor's Cup.

*Takerufuji (left) closes in on a hard-earned victory over Kotozakura. (©SANKEI)*

Impressive Performance at the New Year Basho

In other major bouts at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, No 11 maegashira Takerufuji displayed his incredible strength when he was pushed to the edge but used a powerful thrust to send ozeki Kotozakura toppling to the dirt surface.

Takerufuji remains in the title chase at 9-3 while Kotozakura, winner of the November 2024 tournament, dropped to 5-7 and is in danger of finishing with a losing record.

Mongolian top maegashira Kirishima continued his impressive streak when he won his ninth straight bout by throwing No 3 Oho out at the edge to give both grapplers a 9-3 record.

After he lost his opening three bouts, Kirishima has done nothing but win and finds himself with a shot at the title with three days left.

*Onosato maintains his balance after forcing Chiyoshoma over the edge. (©SANKEI)*

Onosato Conquers Chiyoshoma on Day 12

Ozeki Onosato grabbed the belt of Chiyoshoma after the face-off and bulldozed the fifth-ranked maegashira out to give both men a record of 8-4.

Fourth-ranked maegashira Shodai gave Abi a taste of his own medicine when he used a barrage of powerful arm thrusts to send the komusubi out over the edge.

Former ozeki Shodai improved to 6-6 while Abi dropped to 7-5.

Komusubi Wakatakakage was pushed back to the edge but wriggled free and managed to shove out third-ranked Gonoyama to give both men a record of 6-6.

Sekiwake Daieisho improved to 8-4 and wrapped up a winning record after thrusting down fourth-ranked Ura, who dropped to 6-6.