Sixth-ranked maegashira Takanosho upset yokozuna Terunofuji on Saturday, July 27 to ensure that the championship title will be decided on the last day of the Nagoya Basho.
In the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Takanosho used a right-handed thrust to the throat immediately after the face-off before shoving the stunned grand champion out.
"I just tried to stay focused at the face-off," Takanosho said before adding, "I just thought about moving forward."
Takanosho then said, "I wasn't really thinking that he had a chance to win the championship, I was just focusing on my brand of sumo."
Winning his seventh straight bout, Takanosho improved to 11-3. Terunofuji dropped to 12-2.
In their previous matchup in March, Takanosho defeated Terunofuji on Day 6, a day before the grand champion pulled out with injuries.
Terunofuji will be desperate to win his 10th Emperor's Cup on Sunday, when he faces ozeki Kotozakura. He won his first 10 bouts of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament but now has two losses in the last four bouts.
Takanosho will meet sekiwake Onosato on the final day.
Onosato Overpowers Churanoumi
In other major bouts, May tournament winner Onosato relied on a superior face-off to knock Churanoumi off the raised ring and out of the championship race with a ferocious arm thrust.
Onosato improved to 9-5 while No 12 maegashira Churanoumi, a native of Okinawa, fell to 10-4.
Kotozakura shoved out fellow ozeki Takakeisho to pick up his ninth win against five losses. It has been a disastrous tournament for Takakeisho, who dropped to 5-9 and will be going down to the sekiwake rank for the next meet.
Takakeisho has been battling a series of injuries and put up little resistance in Saturday's bout against Kotozakura.
In an all-sekiwake showdown, Abi deployed a perfectly timed hand pull-down to defeat Kirishima and wrap up a winning record at 8-6.
Mongolian Kirishima dropped to 7-7 and can secure a winning record on the final day to maintain his sekiwake rank for the Autumn Basho in September.
Wakatakakage Notches 10th Nagoya Basho Victory
Former sekiwake Wakatakakage used a frontal push-out to send sixth-ranked Oho (8-6) over the straw ridge and improve to an impressive 10-4.
Wakatakakage, a No 14 maegashira, is back in the elite division after recovering from a right knee injury. He will be making a big jump up the rankings for the next tournament.
No 4 maegashira Tobizaru secured a winning record when he used an inner foot sweep to defeat Oshoma and improve to 8-6. Ninth-ranked Oshoma fell to 7-7.
Wakamotoharu snapped a six-bout losing skid when he used a spectacular overarm throw to topple Meisei and pick up just his fifth win against nine losses. Top maegashira Meisei fell to 4-10.
Wakamotoharu, the brother of Wakatakakage, is a No 2 maegashira but will be moving in the opposite direction of his sibling when the next rankings come out.
Hiradoumi Raises Record to 9-5
Komusubi Hiradoumi got a left-hand grip on the belt of Mitakeumi and drove out the No 2 maegashira to improve to 9-5.
Hiradoumi has impressed in his debut in the upper sanyaku ranks and could wrap up double-digit wins on the final day of competition.
Komusubi Daieisho (8-6) picked up an easy win and wrapped up a winning record when he dodged to his side after the face-off and swatted down Shonannoumi. Fifth-ranked Shonannoumi fell to 6-8.
Top maegashira Atamifuji shoved out third-ranked Gonoyama (4-10) to move to 6-8.
RELATED:
- Terunofuji Swats Down Takakeisho to Maintain a Two-Win Lead at the Nagoya Basho
- Nagoya Basho: Terunofuji Beats Abi and Moves Closer to Winning the Title
- Onosato Stuns Terunofuji to Add Drama to the Nagoya 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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