Sumo

Takerufuji Handed Painful Loss on Penultimate Day of Spring Basho

Not only did the makuuchi division rookie lose his Spring Basho match, he was also carted away on a wheelchair, leaving his status for the final day uncertain.

by
Jim Armstrong
March 23, 2024

Makuuchi division rookie Takerufuji missed out on a chance to win a historic championship on Saturday, March 23 when he was defeated by former ozeki Asanoyama on the penultimate day of the Spring Basho.

In Saturday's featured bout, top maegashira Asanoyama used a textbook frontal force-out to defeat Takerufuji, who landed awkwardly on his right leg when he fell off the dohyo and had to be carried away in a wheelchair.

No 17 maegashira Takerufuji, who dropped to 12-2, is bidding to become the first wrestler in 110 years to win the Emperor's Cup in his makuuchi division debut. The last wrestler to do so was Ryogoku in 1914.

Takerufuji will have to wait until the final day and, given how he left the ring on Day 14, it's not certain he'll be able to fight. He left the venue in an ambulance.

In the very next bout, fifth-ranked maegashira Onosato swatted down komusubi Abi (8-6) to improve to 11-3 and ensure the title chase will go down to the last day of competition.

Kotonowaka Ends Hoshoryu's Spring Basho Title Hopes

And in the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Mongolian ozeki Hoshoryu made the tactical mistake of grabbing Kotonowaka's belt after the face-off.

It might have worked against a smaller man but it backfired against the towering ozeki, who used his weight advantage to topple Hoshoryu and improve to 10-4.

Hoshoryu fell to 10-4 and dropped out of the title chase. His loss means the Emperor's Cup will be won by either Takerufuji or Onosato, two young wrestlers whose careers are just starting out.

Eighth-ranked maegashira Takayasu continued his superb form when he shoved out Roga to move to 10-4. Roga, a No 15 maegashira from Russia, dropped to 7-7.

Ozeki Takakeisho, who wrapped up a winning record on the previous day, pulled out of the penultimate day with an injury and dropped to 8-6.

With Takakeisho's withdrawal, ozeki Kirishima improved to 4-10.

Sekiwake Wakamotoharu wrapped up a winning record when he defeated No 2 maegashira Atamifuji to give both men a record of 8-6.

Gonoyama Earns 10th Spring Basho Victory

Sixth-ranked maegashira Gonoyama also picked up his 10th win when he spun Nishikifuji (8-6) around and shoved the rank-and-filer out from behind.

Fourth-ranked maegashira Tobizaru deployed a textbook rear throw down to defeat Kinbozan and wrap up a winning record by improving to 8-6. No 7 maegashira Kinbozan, who sat out two bouts with injury, stands at 6-6-2.

Top maegashira Ura (6-8) used a spectacular throw of Hiradoumi at the edge and appeared to have won his seventh bout but was called for grabbing the topknot of his opponent and lost by penalty.

It was good news for fourth-ranked maegashira Hiradoumi, who raised his record to 8-6, thus ensuring himself of a winning record.