Sumo: Ichiyamamoto falls into share of lead, Onosato stays in hunt
Grand champion Onosato, the lone yokozuna at Nagoya's new IG Arena after Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal, managed to beat Mongolian-born sekiwake Kirishima, leaving the two at 8-3 after Day 11 of the 15-day tournament.
Onosato is bidding to win his yokozuna debut tournament after winning the previous two meets in March and May to raise his career top-division title count to four.
No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto is now tied for the lead with rising Ukrainian star Aonishiki, Kusano and Kotoshoho, fellow maegashira wrestlers who are ranked first, 14th and 15th.
Former ozeki Takayasu (8-3) executed an underarm throw to win his hard-fought battle against Ichiyamamoto, a 31-year-old who is looking for his first championship in the elite makuuchi division.
"Without giving up, I've been trying to improve my sumo, so I'm glad to have secured a winning record," Takayasu said. "I wanted to take the initiative (against Ichiyamamoto). He was tough and made me work hard for the win."
Aonishiki continued his impressive run with a force-out victory over No. 2 maegashira Abi (6-5).
Trailing behind at 8-3 are Onosato, Kirishima, Takayasu, No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi, No. 10 maegashira Atamifuji and No. 16 maegashira Mitakeumi.
Struggling ozeki Kotozakura (6-5) picked up an important victory in his attempt to secure at least a winning record of 8-7, defeating 40-year-old iron man Tamawashi.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
an hour ago
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Ichiro reflects on legendary career in Hall of Fame speech
COOPERSTOWN, New York (Kyodo) -- Ichiro Suzuki, the first Japanese member of the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame, shared his inspiration to play in the majors while thanking his family and teammates in his induction speech Sunday. The former Seattle Mariners outfielder began his speech in Cooperstown, New York, by calling himself a third-time rookie, now as a member of the hall, after being a rookie in Japan in 1992 and a major league rookie in 2001 at age 27. "I realize I'm a rookie again," said Ichiro, who is widely known by just his first name. "Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into your great team. I hope I can hold the values of the Hall of Fame. But please, I am 51 years old now, so easy on the hazing." He went on to talk about the pressure of succeeding as the first Japanese-born position player in the majors and thanked his wife, agents and teammates as well as Hideo Nomo, who paved the way for other Japanese players in Major League Baseball. "I think you can imagine, there was much doubt when I tried to become the first position player from Japan in MLB," Ichiro said. "But it was more than just that. There was criticism and negativity. Someone even said to me, 'Don't embarrass the nation.' The person who supported me the most was my wife, Yumiko." "It would only be natural if she had doubts too. But she never made me feel them. All of her energy was focused on supporting and encouraging me." In 2001, Ichiro won both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards after leading the league with a .350 batting average, 242 hits and 56 stolen bases. He finished with 3,089 hits and retired in March 2019 after 19 seasons.
Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Baseball: Ichiro reflects on legendary career in Hall of Fame speech
COOPERSTOWN, New York - Ichiro Suzuki, the first Japanese member of the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame, shared his inspiration to play in the majors while thanking his family and teammates in his induction speech Sunday. The former Seattle Mariners outfielder began his speech in Cooperstown, New York, by calling himself a third-time rookie, now as a member of the hall, after being a rookie in Japan in 1992 and a major league rookie in 2001 at age 27. "I realize I'm a rookie again," said Ichiro, who is widely known by just his first name. "Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into your great team. I hope I can hold the values of the Hall of Fame. But please, I am 51 years old now, so easy on the hazing." He went on to talk about the pressure of succeeding as the first Japanese-born position player in the majors and thanked his wife, agents and teammates as well as Hideo Nomo, who paved the way for other Japanese players in Major League Baseball. "I think you can imagine, there was much doubt when I tried to become the first position player from Japan in MLB," Ichiro said. "But it was more than just that. There was criticism and negativity. Someone even said to me, 'Don't embarrass the nation.' The person who supported me the most was my wife, Yumiko." "It would only be natural if she had doubts too. But she never made me feel them. All of her energy was focused on supporting and encouraging me." In 2001, Ichiro won both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards after leading the league with a .350 batting average, 242 hits and 56 stolen bases. He finished with 3,089 hits and retired in March 2019 after 19 seasons.
Kyodo News
15 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Kotoshoho beats Aonishiki to claim maiden Emperor's Cup
NAGOYA - Dark horse Kotoshoho overpowered fellow championship contender Aonishiki to win the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament with a 13-2 record on Sunday. No. 15 maegashira Kotoshoho came into the 15th and final day leading young Ukrainian sensation Aonishiki and top-division debutant Kusano by one bout, with the Emperor's Cup guaranteed to go to a first-time winner from among the rank and file at the new IG Arena. Determined to avoid a loss that would force him into a championship-deciding playoff, Kotoshoho opened with a solid shoulder blast and thrusted Aonishiki (11-4) to the clay as the No. 1 maegashira attempted to get inside for a belt grip. The 25-year-old Chiba Prefecture native, who earned Fighting Spirit and Outstanding Achievement awards, said he tried not to "think too much" heading into the decisive match against Aonishiki. "After the initial charge my body just moved naturally," said Kotoshoho, who started thinking about the title "about two days ago" with his win against new yokozuna Onosato. Kotoshoho, who made his top-tier makuuchi division debut in Nagoya in 2020, came close to winning the title in January 2023 but lost a winner-takes-all battle against ozeki Takakeisho on the last day. "I learned from my previous experience not to be too nervous and just try to do my best," said Kotoshoho, who added the top-tier debut for his younger brother Kotoeiho this month gave him "motivation." Aonishiki's loss marked a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar meet for the 21-year-old, who came to Japan in April 2022 to escape the war raging in his home country. Sumo's new European star took home a Technique Prize, continuing his streak of a special award in each of his three top-division tournaments. The dynamic grappler reached 11 wins in each of those meets. Kotoshoho's victory also ended No. 14 maegashira Kusano's hopes of becoming the first wrestler to win the Emperor's Cup in his top-division debut since Takerufuji in March 2024. A day after knocking Aonishiki off the top rung of the leaderboard, former university sumo star Kusano (11-4) came off second-best in a thrusting battle with veteran komusubi Takayasu (10-5). The 24-year-old from Kumamoto Prefecture collected Fighting Spirit and Technique prizes as consolation. New yokozuna Onosato forced out ozeki Kotozakura to wrap up his debut tournament as a grand champion at 11-4. After a powerful opening collision, the four-time Emperor's Cup winner shifted Kotozakura over the straw bales and consigned him to another lackluster 8-7 finish. Onosato became the only yokozuna competing in Nagoya following the early withdrawal of Hoshoryu, who pulled out with a damaged big toe after going 1-3 over the first four days. Wakatakakage (10-5) put himself in contention to earn ozeki promotion at the next meet by forcing out fellow sekiwake Kirishima (8-7), who lost his last five bouts. No. 10 maegashira Atamifuji, who was knocked out of the title race a day earlier, finished at 11-4 with a force out of No. 13 maegashira Churanoumi (9-6). Veteran No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi (11-4) forced out komusubi Oshoma (3-12) and earned his third Outstanding Performance Prize, becoming the oldest recipient of the award at 40 years and eight months old.
