Sumo

Onosato Beats Kotozakura for 1st Time to Claim Another Huge Win at Summer Basho

The komusubi wrestler has beaten a grand champion and two ozeki to emerge as a Summer Basho championship contender at the 15-day meet in Tokyo.

by
Jim Armstrong
May 17, 2024

Newly promoted komusubi Onosato manhandled ozeki Kotozakura on Friday, May 17 to stay one win back of rank-and-filer Ura after six days of the Summer Basho.

In a showdown of two young stars, Onosato got a right-hand grip on the belt of Kotozakura shortly after the face-off and then used his powerful 176-kilogram (388-pound) frame to bump the ozeki out and improve to 5-1 in the 15-day basho.

"I've been working on my face-offs and today it paid off," said Onosato, who notched his first win over ozeki Kotozakura. "I just plan to focus on each bout one at a time."

Kotozakura desperately tried to get a grip of his opponent's belt but was unable to do so and dropped to 4-2.

Onosato has now beaten yokozuna Terunofuji and ozeki wrestlers Kotozakura and Kirishima. With many of the top wrestlers out due to injury, the door is wide open for Onosato to claim his first title.

Hoshoryu Raises Record to 4-2 at the Summer Basho

In other major bouts at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, ozeki Hoshoryu shoved out No 3 maegashira Tobizaru (2-4) to pick up his fourth win against a pair of losses.

Fourth-ranked maegashira Oho added more misery on Kirishima when he swatted down the ozeki grappler who dropped to 1-5. Oho improved to 2-4 with his first win over Kirishima.

Mongolian Kirishima needs a winning record in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament to maintain his status for the next basho but that is looking more and more unlikely.

Rank-and-filer Ura beat former ozeki Mitakeumi to take sole possession of the lead.

No 4 maegashira Ura grabbed a hold of Mitakeumi's arm shortly after the face-off and then used an overarm throw to dispatch the seventh-ranked maegashira and improve to a perfect 6-0.

Mitakeumi had seven wins in their previous nine bouts but couldn't get a hold of Ura's belt and was tossed out to his first defeat.

Ura is the surprise leader in the 15-day tournament, which has seen the withdrawal of many of sumo's top wrestlers, including grand champion Terunofuji and Spring Basho winner Takerufuji.

Daieisho Overpowers Wakamotoharu

Top maegashira Daieisho butted heads with Wakamotoharu at the face-off and then used a superb thrust-down technique to join a group of seven wrestlers at 5-1. Wakamotoharu stands at 3-3.

Makuuchi division debutant Oshoma swatted down fellow rank-and-filer Takarafuji to give both grapplers a record of 5-1.

Tenth-ranked maegashira Shonannoumi forced out No 12 Nishikifuji to join the large pack of wrestlers at 5-1. Nishikifuji was handed his fifth loss against a lone win.

No 14 maegashira Ryuden overpowered No 17 Tsurugisho (2-4) to pick up his fifth win against a lone loss.

Also Friday, No 2 maegashira Gonoyama used a swat to the back of the head to thrust down top maegashira Atamifuji and improve to 3-3. Atamifuji dropped to 2-4.