Rank-and-filer Takayasu recorded a huge upset win over grand champion Hoshoryu on Sunday, March 16 while maintaining a share of the lead at the midway point of the Spring Basho.
In the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, fourth-ranked maegashira Takayasu got a left-handed grip on the belt of the newly promoted yokozuna and knocked Hoshoryu off balance before shoving him off the raised ring.
Veteran Takayasu improved to 7-1 and is tied for the lead with ozeki Onosato and lower-ranked grappler Churanoumi.
It was a critical third loss for Mongolian Hoshoryu, whose chances of winning the Emperor's Cup in his debut at sumo's highest rank suffered a major setback as he fell to 5-3.
Hoshoryu was promoted to sumo's highest rank after winning the New Year Basho in January with a 12-3 record.
He lost his opening day bout to Abi and was defeated by Chiyoshoma on Day 5.
Hoshoryu started out well in Sunday's bout against Takayasu but was guilty of poor footwork and couldn't mount a counterattack.
He will look to get back in the win column on Day 9 against Ichiyamamoto.
Onosato Maintains Strong Form at the Spring Basho
In other major bouts at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, ozeki Onosato dodged a bullet when he was shoved back to the edge by Ichiyamamoto (4-4). But he used solid footwork on the raised ring to swat down the fourth-ranked maegashira and improve to 7-1.
Demotion-threatened ozeki Kotozakura picked up an important win when he got both arms around komusubi Kirishima and drove the former ozeki out to move to 5-3. Kirishima dropped to 4-4.
Kotozakura could only manage a 5-10 record in the previous tournament. He needs at least eight wins in the Spring Basho to hold on to his ozeki status for the next tournament in May.
Tamawashi Remains in Title Contention
Sumo's ironman Tamawashi used a series of powerful arm thrusts to the neck and upper body to send fellow No 7 maegashira Shodai backpedaling over the straw ridge to improve to 6-2. Shodai dropped to 3-5.
No 6 maegashira Takerufuji, who was the surprise winner at the 2024 March basho, came bursting out of the face-off, got a left arm in on Oshoma (3-5) and drove the eighth-ranked maegashira over the straw bales to move to 6-2.
No 11 maegashira Meisei continued to impress when he used a frontal force-out to defeat No 14 Ryuden to pick up his sixth win against just two losses. Ryuden stands at 3-5.
Sekiwake Daieisho swatted down No 3 maegashira Takanosho (2-6) to pick up his fifth win against three losses.
Further down the ranks, Churanoumi swatted down fellow rank-and-filer Mitakeumi (4-4) to improve to 7-1.
Makuuchi division debutant Aonishiki of Ukraine shoved out fellow rank-and-filer Shirokuma (3-5) to improve to 5-3.
RELATED:
- Abi Upsets Hoshoryu in His Yokozuna Debut on Day 1 of Spring Basho
- Newly Promoted Yokozuna Hoshoryu Aiming to Kick Off New Era in Style at Spring Basho
- Mongolian Hoshoryu Named 74th Yokozuna After Winning the 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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