Sumo

Terunofuji Inches Closer to 10th Emperor's Cup with a Convincing Nagoya Basho Win Over Kirishima

The yokozuna has a two-win buffer over Kotozakura with just five days to go at the Nagoya Basho, the fourth of six grand sumo tournaments this year.

by
Jim Armstrong
July 23, 2024

Grand champion Terunofuji moved a step closer to winning his 10th Emperor's Cup with a one-sided defeat of fellow Mongolian Kirishima at the Nagoya Basho on Tuesday, July 23.

Terunofuji quickly locked up the arms of his opponent and used a pulling overarm throw to send sekiwake Kirishima toppling off the raised ring in the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

The yokozuna improved to a perfect 10 and moved to 12-0 against Kirishima, who dropped to 5-5 and must win all his remaining bouts to regain ozeki status.

After failing to complete the previous two tournaments due to injury, Terunofuji has looked unbeatable so far in the 15-day sumo meet. He will face May tournament winner Onosato on Day 11.

Kotozakura Stays in Contention at Nagoya Basho

In other major bouts at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, okeki Kotozakura stayed in the championship race with a textbook arm throw against sekiwake Onosato in the day's penultimate bout.

Kotozakura, the only man with a real chance of catching Terunofuji, improved to 8-2 while newly promoted sekiwake Onosato dropped to 5-5.

Ozeki Hoshoryu executed a perfectly timed outside leg trip to topple Shonannoumi and improve to 7-3, one win away from wrapping up a winning record. Fifth-ranked maegashira Shonannoumi fell to 5-5.

Ozeki Takakeisho was a hard-luck loser in a showdown with sekiwake Abi.

Takakeisho shoved Abi back and out. But Takakeisho's hand went out first as Abi propped himself on the straw bales before recording the slap-down win to move to 6-4.

It was a tough break for Takakeisho, who dominated his opponent from the outset but dropped to 4-6. He now needs to win four bouts in the remaining five days to maintain his ozeki status for the next tournament.

Up-and-coming grappler Hiradoumi used a superb face-off to send Wakamotoharu back to the edge then dodged to his side and hauled down the No 2 maegashira.

Newly promoted komusubi Hiradoumi, a native of Nagasaki, picked up his sixth win against four losses while Wakamotoharu fell to 4-6.

Further down the ranks, veteran Endo did Terunofuji a favor when he shoved out Churanoumi to give the No 12 maegashira a 7-3 record. Endo, a 14th-ranked maegashira, picked up his sixth win against four losses.

Rank-and-filer Churanoumi entered Day 10 as one of two wrestlers who were two wins off the pace of Terunofuji. Now there is only one.

Shodai, Wakatakakage Secure Victories

Former ozeki Shodai, a No 10 maegashira, used some fancy footwork before executing a thrust-down to defeat Kinbozan while improving to 7-3. Eighth-ranked maegashira Kinbozan dropped to 3-7.

Wakatakakage showed spectacular footwork at the edge where he jumped to his side and turned the tables on Midorifuji before shoving the 10th-ranked maegashira out.

In his comeback tourney in the elite makuuchi division, Wakatakakage, a former sekiwake now fighting as a No 14 maegashira, earned his seventh win against just three losses. Midorfuji fell to 6-4.

Wakatakakage can wrap up a winning record for the Nagoya Basho when he takes on rank-and-filer Chiyoshoma on Day 11. The brother of Wakamotoharu is certain to be moving up the ranks for the next tournament.