
Sumo: Young Ukrainian Aonishiki upsets yokozuna Hoshoryu on Day 3
New yokozuna Onosato, meanwhile, continued his impressive start to the 15-day competition, improving to 3-0 with a victory over No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu.
Having beaten ozeki Kotozakura on the opening day of the tournament, the 21-year-old Aonishiki (2-1) recorded the biggest win of his brief career, earning his first "kinboshi" gold star prize for defeating a yokozuna as a rank-and-file wrestler.
The No. 1 maegashira stayed in constant motion after the opening clash, preventing Hoshoryu (1-2) from using a belt grip and eventually tackling the yokozuna to the clay with a thigh grabbing push down.
"I'm just glad I won," said Aonishiki, who was beaten by Onosato on Day 2. "I'll just do my best each day from now on and concentrate on whoever my opponent may be."
Hoshoryu's second straight defeat, a day after losing to Wakamotoharu, marked another poor start to a meet as yokozuna. He withdrew hurt from his debut tournament at the top rank in March and finished with a 5-5-5 record.
Onosato, gunning for his third straight Emperor's Cup, delivered a strong opening charge and was credited with a frontal push down victory after the backpedaling Wakamotoharu (1-2) slipped to the sandy surface.
Kotozakura (1-2) showed little sign of overcoming his recent run of lackluster results, succumbing to a pulling overarm throw against veteran komusubi Takayasu (2-1).
"I want to do the kind of sumo fans enjoy watching," former ozeki Takayasu said.
Aiming to move back up to ozeki, Mongolian sekiwake Kirishima (3-0) stayed unbeaten by forcing out No. 2 maegashira Oho (0-3). Sekiwake Wakatakakage dropped to 2-1 with a slap-down loss to No. 2 maegashira Abi (2-1).

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Kyodo News
7 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.


The Mainichi
7 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Kotoshoho beats Aonishiki to claim maiden Emperor's Cup
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- 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.


Yomiuri Shimbun
7 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
No. 15 Maegashira Kotoshoho Seizes Chance, Secures 1st Title at Nagoya Tournament
For just the second time in his modest career, No. 15 maegashira Kotoshoho had a title within reach. This time he made sure not to let it get away. Kotoshoho captured his first makuuchi-division championship with a victory over No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki on the final day of the Nagoya Grand Tournament at IG Arena on Sunday, making him the first maegashira-ranked wrestler to win a title in eight tournaments. 'My emotions still haven't caught up with me, but I'm happy,' Kotoshoho said in the post-victory ceremony interview. The 25-year-old Kotoshoho finished with a 13-2 record for a two-win margin over a quintet of runners-up that included yokozuna Onosato, whom Kotoshoho eliminated from title contention by beating him on Day 13. 'It was the day before yesterday that I became aware that I could win,' Kotoshoho said. With the victory, Kotoshoho also gains the distinction of becoming the first champion in the newly opened IG Arena, which replaced the Aichi Prefectural Gym that had hosted the tournament for the past 60 years. It marks quite a contrast with the inaugural champion at Aichi Gym back in 1965 — the legendary yokozuna Taiho. But that doesn't imply Kotoshoho was not deserving of the Emperor's Cup. After two straight losses left him at 3-2 after five days, the Chiba Prefecture native reeled off 10 straight wins. For his efforts, Kotoshoho also shared the Outstanding Performance Award and the Fighting Spirit Prize. Kotoshoho went into Sunday's match against Aonishiki with a one-win lead over the Ukrainian. A Kotoshoho win would secure the title outright, while a loss would have resulted in a playoff between the two, with No. 14 maegashira Kusano, whose bout was up next, potentially making it a three-man affair. But Kotoshoho settled the matter quickly, driving hard from the jump-off, then pulling back at just the right moment to cause Aonishiki to fall forward onto his hands, much to the delight of the crowd that included his father, wife and young son. 'I'm not sure where they are, but I think they saw a decent performance,' Kotoshoho said about having his family on hand. It was the second time in his career that Kotoshoho, who has never risen above the rank of No. 3 maegashira and temporarily dropped to the juryo division, went into the last day with a chance to walk off with the Emperor's Cup. At the 2023 New Year tournament, he came up short in a winner-take-all showdown with ozeki Takakeisho. 'I thought just to go out as hard as I could,' Kotoshoho said in comparing the two tournaments. Kusano, who was poised to set up a three-way playoff had Kotoshoho lost, instead ended up losing himself to komusubi Takayasu to end the tournament with a still impressive 11-4 record. He shared the Technique Prize with Aonishiki, while also sharing the Fighting Spirit Prize with Kotoshoho and No. 15 maegashira Fujinokawa. Takayasu, a former ozeki, used a rapid-fire slapping attack to force out Kusano and finish at 10-5, a record that will leave no doubts about him at least retaining the komusubi rank. Takayasu had moved up to the fourth highest rank for the preceding Summer tournament, and although he ended with a 6-9 record, was allowed to keep his spot based on the circumstances of others. It was the first time such a 'non-demotion' had occurred since the 15-day tournament system was established in 1949. For newly promoted yokozuna Onosato, his disappointing debut at the sport's highest rank ended with a victory over ozeki Kotozakura, leaving him among the fivesome at 11-4 after having already securing an ignominious place in sumo history. Onosato, who had stormed into Nagoya riding back-to-back titles that propelled him to the top rank, suffered all four of his losses to maegashira-ranked wrestlers, the most-ever in a yokozuna debut in modern sumo history. For the first time in five years, there were two yokozuna competing in the same tournament, and hopes were high of a late showdown between Onosato and fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu. But Hoshoryu pulled out on the fifth day after suffering three straight losses, and in the end, it was the rank-and-filers who supplied the fireworks. Kotozakura, by finishing 8-7, has now failed to notch double-digit wins in four consecutive tournaments since he won the Kyushu tournament in November 2024 with a 14-1 record. In a battle between the two sekiwake, Wakatakakage slipped to the side at the jump-off, then shuffled Kirishima out of the ring to close with a 10-5 mark. Kirishima finished at 8-7. Also receiving the Outstanding Performance Award was No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi, who finished up an 11-4 record with a victory over komusubi Oshoma (3-12). At 40 years 8 months, he becomes the oldest ever recipient of one of the three post-tournament prizes.