Fourth-ranked maegashira Shodai upset Mongolian Hoshoryu on Sunday, January 19 to put a dent in the ozeki's yokozuna promotion hopes at the midway point of the New Year Basho.
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Shodai was pushed back at the face-off but swatted aside Hoshoryu to seize the momentum before pulling off a stunning frontal push-down at the edge.
"I just decided to go for it," Shodai said. "He fought hard at the outset but I was able to make a counterattack and move forward. As long as you are moving forward, good things will happen."
Shodai improved to 3-5 while Hoshoryu dropped to 6-2. It's not curtains for Hoshoryu's yokozuna promotion bid but he basically has to win every remaining bout over the second week.
The Last Unbeaten Wrestler in the Makuuchi Division
Kinbozan of Kazakhstan emerged as the surprise sole New Year Basho leader when he got a left-handed grip on the belt of ironman Tamawashi and waltzed the No 10 maegashira out to improve to 8-0.
"I just tried to go on the attack, he put up a good fight but I just kept moving forward," said No 14 maegashira Kinbozan. "My condition is good and I'm able to fight aggressively."
Tenth-ranked maegashira Tamawashi fell to 6-2.
Two rank-and-filers ― Takerufuji and Chiyoshoma ― are one win off the pace.
Takarafuji pulled off a spectacular move at the edge to knock Chiyoshoma out of the lead.
Fifth-ranked maegashira Chiyoshoma pushed Takarafuji back but the No 8 maegashira perched one-legged on the straw ridge and deployed an arm bar throw to send the Mongolian toppling off the raised ring.
Chiyoshoma fell to 7-1 while Takarafuji stands at an even 4-4.
Takerufuji, the 2024 Spring Basho winner, kept pace and improved to 7-1 when he thrust down fellow rank-and-filer Kitanowaka (4-4).
Kitanowaka needed to be carted away in a wheelchair after injuring his leg falling off the raised ring.
Kotozakura Outmuscles Oho
Ozeki Kotozakura used a pulling overarm throw to send Oho sprawling to the dirt surface while improving to 3-5. No 3 maegashira Oho fell to 6-2.
Kotozakura came into the tournament hoping to earn promotion to grand champion but that went out the window early on. Now he is just hoping to avoid a losing record to become relegation-threatened for the next tournament.
Komusubi Abi fought off a relentless attack by Tobizaru before eventually unleashing his two-handed thrusting attack to dispatch the No 2 maegashira and give both men a record of 5-3.
Top maegashira Kirishima shifted to his right and shoved Wakamotoharu out from behind to win his fifth straight bout and improve to 5-3. It's been a disastrous tournament for sekiwake Wakamotoharu, who dropped to 1-7.
Ozeki Onosato won his third straight bout and improved to 5-3 when he got a left-handed grip on the belt of Wakatakakage and used a bread-and-butter frontal force-out to defeat the struggling komusubi, who dropped to 3-5.
RELATED:
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- Tobizaru Pulls off Another Huge Upset with a Win over Terunofuji at New Year Basho
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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