Sumo: Ukrainian starlet Aonishiki continues breakout run in Nagoya
Fighting as a No. 1 maegashira, the 21-year-old defeated Mongolian komusubi Oshoma for his fifth win in seven matches against opponents ranging from yokozuna through the three "sanyaku" ranks below grand champion.
Aonishiki is one win behind grand champion Onosato, who is fighting in his yokozuna debut tournament, and five other co-leaders at Nagoya's new IG Arena.
"I just went with how I felt, instead of watching my opponent's moves," Aonishiki said of his push-out victory over Oshoma.
In only his third tournament in the elite makuuchi division, Aonishiki upset ozeki Kotozakura on the opening day and stunned grand champion Hoshoryu two days later after losing to Onosato.
"We still haven't reached the eighth day (the halfway point of the 15-day tournament), so it feels like the real battle starts now," Aonishiki said.
With his country in the grip of war against Russia, Aonishiki arrived in Japan in April 2022 and now speaks fluent Japanese.
During his fifth-day victory over sekiwake Kirishima, Aonishiki received a strong thrust that left him with bruising around his right eye.
Asked to comment on the wound, the wrestler, who belongs to the Ajigawa stable, quipped, "I don't care. I think I've become a more handsome man."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
11 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Hakuoho shakes up Nagoya meet with shock win over Onosato
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho sprang a stunning upset to knock new yokozuna Onosato off the top of the leaderboard at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday. The 21-year-old Hakuoho's unexpected victory left sekiwake Kirishima tied for the lead with three rank-and-file wrestlers at 7-1 on Day 8 of the 15-day tournament at IG Arena. Onosato (6-2) had made short work of Hakuoho (4-4) in their only previous top-division meeting in May, but things did not go to plan for the new yokozuna as he faced a strong opening charge from the burly youngster. With the 25-year-old grand champion trying to pull him down, Hakuoho stayed attached to his opponent's body and drove forward for a push-out victory. "I'm glad that I was able to excite the fans with my performance," Hakuoho said. "My stablemaster (former yokozuna Terunofuji) told me just to go for broke and make use of everything I've been practicing in my training sessions." Onosato, gunning for his third straight Emperor's Cup, is competing as the sole yokozuna following Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal from the 15-day tournament. Former ozeki Kirishima had to work hard for his win against No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (2-6), backpedaling under a flurry of blows before pushing his younger Mongolian compatriot over the straw bales. He shares the lead with the 40-year-old No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto and top-division debutant Kusano, competing as a No. 14 maegashira. Tamawashi won a battle of former sekiwake against No. 2 maegashira Abi (4-4), Ichiyamamoto threw No. 10 maegashira Atamifuji (5-3), and Kusano forced out No. 15 maegashira Hidenoumi (0-6-2). The other overnight leader, former ozeki and current No. 16 maegashira Mitakeumi (6-2) lost to No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (5-3). Giant-killing Ukrainian No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki (6-2) continued to impress as he stayed one win off the pace with a force-out victory over former sekiwake Oho (2-6), now competing as a No. 2 maegashira. Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-3 after being pushed out by Mongolian komusubi Oshoma (2-6), battling to stave off a losing record in his first meet as a member of the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna. Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 4-4 with a thrilling backward pivot throw reversal against No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (1-7).
Kyodo News
13 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Hakuoho shakes up Nagoya meet with shock win over Onosato
NAGOYA - Up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho sprang a stunning upset to knock new yokozuna Onosato off the top of the leaderboard at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday. The 21-year-old Hakuoho's unexpected victory left sekiwake Kirishima tied for the lead with three rank-and-file wrestlers at 7-1 on Day 8 of the 15-day tournament at IG Arena. Onosato (6-2) had made short work of Hakuoho (4-4) in their only previous top-division meeting in May, but things did not go to plan for the new yokozuna as he faced a strong opening charge from the burly youngster. With the 25-year-old grand champion trying to pull him down, Hakuoho stayed attached to his opponent's body and drove forward for a push-out victory. "I'm glad that I was able to excite the fans with my performance," Hakuoho said. "My stablemaster (former yokozuna Terunofuji) told me just to go for broke and make use of everything I've been practicing in my training sessions." Onosato, gunning for his third straight Emperor's Cup, is competing as the sole yokozuna following Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal from the 15-day tournament. Former ozeki Kirishima had to work hard for his win against No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (2-6), backpedaling under a flurry of blows before pushing his younger Mongolian compatriot over the straw bales. He shares the lead with the 40-year-old No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto and top-division debutant Kusano, competing as a No. 14 maegashira. Tamawashi won a battle of former sekiwake against No. 2 maegashira Abi (4-4), Ichiyamamoto threw No. 10 maegashira Atamifuji (5-3), and Kusano forced out No. 15 maegashira Hidenoumi (0-6-2). The other overnight leader, former ozeki and current No. 16 maegashira Mitakeumi (6-2) lost to No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (5-3). Giant-killing Ukrainian No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki (6-2) continued to impress as he stayed one win off the pace with a force-out victory over former sekiwake Oho (2-6), now competing as a No. 2 maegashira. Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-3 after being pushed out by Mongolian komusubi Oshoma (2-6), battling to stave off a losing record in his first meet as a member of the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna. Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 4-4 with a thrilling backward pivot throw reversal against No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (1-7).
The Mainichi
16 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Basketball: Bulls ink Japan national team star Kawamura to 2-way deal
NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- The Chicago Bulls have signed Japanese men's national basketball team guard Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract for the 2025-26 season, the NBA franchise announced Saturday. The 24-year-old, who became a free agent after his National Basketball Association rookie campaign last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, impressed in five Summer League appearances for the Bulls, averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 23.9 minutes. Under the two-way deal, he will divide his time between the Bulls and their affiliated team in the developmental G League. The 173-centimeter Kawamura last season became the fourth Japanese player to appear in the NBA after joining the Grizzlies on a two-way contract. He played in 22 games, averaging 1.6 points and 0.9 assists in 4.2 minutes. In 24 games for the Grizzlies' G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, he averaged 12.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 31.0 minutes. Kawamura previously starred for the San-en NeoPhoenix and Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan's domestic B-League and was a standout performer for head coach Tom Hovasse's Japan team at the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2023 FIBA World Cup.
