Sumo

Promotion-Chasing Onosato Topples Tobizaru to Stay Perfect at Autumn Basho

The sekiwake grappler could earn promotion to sumo's second-highest rank with a strong performance in the 15-day Autumn Basho at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

by
Jim Armstrong
September 9, 2024

Up-and-coming grappler Onosato brushed aside Tobizaru on Monday, September 9 to stay undefeated after two days at the Autumn Basho.

Tobizaru, who has a reputation for unorthodox moves, came in low after the face-off and attempted to grab the legs of the much larger Onosato.

But the sekiwake stayed calm against top maegashira Tobizaru (1-1) and used a frontal thrust-out to defeat sumo's Flying Monkey and remain perfect at 2-0.

Onosato is bidding for promotion to ozeki in this tournament. If he is able to do so, he would set the record for becoming the fastest to achieve the feat in just nine tournaments in the elite division.

Onosato captured his first Emperor's Cup in May with a 12-3 record before going 9-6 in the July basho. The unofficial benchmark for achieving promotion to ozeki is 33 wins over three tournaments.

He would need at least 12 wins in the 15-day basho to earn promotion to sumo's second-highest rank.

Hoshoryu Bounces Back at Autumn Basho

In the day's final Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, Mongolian ozeki Hoshoryu was all business when he got both arms around Daieisho and bulldozed the stunned komusubi into the first row of seats.

Hoshoryu improved to 1-1 while Daieisho fell to 0-2.

Ozeki Kotozakura got a double inside grip immediately after the face-off and bulldozed top maegashira Takanosho out to remain undefeated at 2-0. Takanosho fell to 1-1.

Sekiwake Kirishima used a last-gasp underarm throw at the edge to defeat Atamifuji and capped his win with an impressive pirouette to improve to 2-0.

No 2 maegashira Atamifuji (0-2) managed to force Kirishima to the edge but couldn't finish off his opponent.

Oho, a second-ranked maegashira, manhandled sekiwake Takakeisho with a frontal force-out to pick up his first win and improve to 1-1.

It was a tough loss for winless Takakeisho, who needs 10 wins in this tournament to automatically regain his ozeki status. He has looked overwhelmed in his first two losses so he has a tough road ahead.

Hiradoumi Outduels Wakamotoharu

Komusubi Hiradoumi picked up his first win when he put both arms around Wakamotoharu and drove the No 3 maegashira out to give both men a record of 1-1.

Sekiwake Abi used his trademark arm thrusts to the upper body to send third-ranked maegashira Mitakeumi backpedaling out of the ring. Both grapplers are at 1-1.

Further down the ranks, No 7 maegashira Wakatakakage, the brother of Wakamotoharu, shoved out sixth-ranked Meisei to give both grapplers a record of 1-1.

In the day's first Autumn Basho bout in the elite division, No 17 maegashira Nishikifuji executed a superb overarm throw to hand makuuchi division debutant Shirokuma his first loss, a result that left both grapplers at 1-1.