Sumo: Onosato manhandles Aonishiki, but Hoshoryu suffers Day 2 upset
Star attraction Onosato maintained his perfect record as a grand champion with an overwhelming victory against No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki in the final bout of Day 2 at IG Arena.
The 21-year-old European had caused a sensation with his opening-day victory over ozeki Kotozakura, but he had no chance to spring another upset as he was bulldozed straight off the dohyo by the 192-centimeter, 191-kilogram yokozuna.
Onosato, 25, is bidding for his third straight Emperor's Cup at the 15-day tournament after achieving yokozuna promotion at a record pace on the back of consecutive championships in March and May.
Hoshoryu, winner of 13 of his 15 previous bouts against Wakamotoharu, narrowly avoided a slap down at the hands of the former sekiwake before appearing to establish the stronger position in the clinch.
But Wakamotoharu (1-1) seized an opening when the yokozuna loosened his right hand while searching for an inside grip, forcing him back over the edge.
"I thought I wouldn't be able to stop him if I faced him square, so the idea was to attack him from the side a bit," said Wakamotoharu, who earned his second "kinboshi" gold star prize for defeating a yokozuna as a rank-and-file wrestler.
"I was trying to attack him patiently as I didn't have an overarm grip, but his body went up as he tried to alter his belt-holding position and I thought I just had to drive forward."
Ozeki Kotozakura bounced back from his opening day loss to Aonishiki with a marathon victory against No. 2 maegashira Oho (0-2).
The two grandsons of former yokozuna locked up in an extended stalemate before Kotozakura drove Oho backward over the straw bales.
Kirishima, aiming to move back up to ozeki from sekiwake, stayed unbeaten by dispatching No. 2 maegashira Abi (1-1) with an overarm throw.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage (2-0) continued his impressive start to the competition, getting an inside position and using solid footwork to force out winless No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu.
Komusubi Takayasu (1-1) got off the mark by thrusting down No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (1-1), but Mongolian Oshoma remained winless in his komusubi debut after being crushed out by No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho (1-1).
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