Sumo

Terunofuji Outlasts Determined Ura to Remain in Sole Lead at Nagoya Basho

The grand champion had his hands full with the Osaka native on Day 7 of the Nagoya Basho but prevailed to maintain his perfect record.

by
Jim Armstrong
July 20, 2024

Grand champion Terunofuji faced his sternest test yet but prevailed in a hard-fought bout against Ura on Saturday, July 20 to maintain his two-win lead at the Nagoya Basho.

In the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, fourth-ranked maegashira Ura pushed Terunofuji back to the edge several times before the yokozuna finally shoved out the determined Kise stable grappler.

Terunofuji improved to a perfect 7-0 in the 15-day meet and is moving closer and closer to a coveted 10th Emperor's Cup. Ura, who gave it everything he had, dropped to 3-4.

The Mongolian grand champion needed to sit out most of the previous two tournaments with injury, but Terunofji has looked dominant in Nagoya as the 15-day tournament approaches the midway point.

Kotozakura Stays Two Wins Off the Pace at 5-2

In other major bouts at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, ozeki Kotozakura charged forward against Tobizaru and shoved out the tricky fourth-ranked maegashira to join the large group of seven wrestlers at 5-2.

Tobizaru was no match for his much larger opponent and dropped to 4-3.

In an all-Mongolian showdown, sekiwake Kirishima swatted down ozeki Hoshoryu to stop a three-bout losing skid and give both grapplers a record of 4-3.

Kirishima needs 10 wins to return to the ozeki rank for the next tournament in September.

Komusubi Daieisho used several arm thrusts to the upper body to send Meisei back and executed a frontal push-down to stay in the large chase pack at 5-2. Top maegashira Meisei fell to 2-5.

In a showdown of rising stars, sekiwake Onosato got a right-handed grip on the belt and used a frontal force-out to defeat Atamifuji and improve to 4-3.

After a slow start, May tournament winner Onosato won his third straight bout and has picked up some momentum heading into the second half of the Nagoya Basho. Top maegashira Atamifuji dropped to 2-5.

Newly promoted komusubi Hiradoumi exchanged a barrage of arm thrusts with Takakeisho and shoved the ozeki out to move to 4-3.

It was a tough loss for Takakeisho, who needs a winning record of at least eight wins in this tournament to maintain his ozeki status. He has a 2-5 record.

Fifth-ranked maegashira Shonannoumi swatted down No 9 Onosho (4-3) to pick up his fifth win against two losses. Shonannoumi will meet Terunofuji on Day 8.

Wakatakakage Among the Chase Pack

Further down the ranks, resurgent No 14 maegashira Wakatakakage used a frontal force-out to defeat Nishikifuji and move to 5-2. No 17 maegashira Nishikifuji dropped to 3-4.

The former sekiwake Wakatakakage is fighting in the elite makuuchi division for the first time since March of 2023 after suffering a leg injury.

Rank-and-filers Kotoshoho, Shodai, Churanoumi are also part of the large group of grapplers at 5-2 after winning their Day 7 bouts.