Latest news with #Aonishiki
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Ukrainian Aonishiki fuels predictions of future ozeki promotion
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Although he came up short in his bid for a maiden top-division championship, rising Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki's stellar performance at the recent Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament has some insiders predicting his eventual promotion to the lofty rank of ozeki. Competing as a No. 1 maegashira, the 21-year-old was in the title race until his loss on the final day of the 15-day tournament to Kotoshoho, who clinched the championship by winning their match on Sunday. Aonishiki has compiled an impressive 11-4 record in each of his three tournaments in the elite makuuchi division, employing a low-to-the-ground stance that reflects his background in the sport of wrestling as a youth. Stablemaster Kokonoe, formerly ozeki Chiyotaikai, compared the youngster's dynamic grappling style to that of a past great. "He reminds me of (former ozeki) Tochiazuma, when he was on his way up," Kokonoe said. Despite his forward leaning posture, Aonishiki has not been vulnerable to pulling techniques, with one opponent wryly observing that he "never goes down." Sumo elder Takekuma, formerly ozeki Goeido, said Aonishiki exhibited both excellent strength and technique. "It shows the strength of his abdominals and back muscles," Takekuma said. "Since both legs are never in line, you can't slap him down." Stablemaster Asakayama is also among the elders impressed by the emerging European star, having seen firsthand his dedication and will to improve during practice sessions. "He's focused on one thing, how he can get stronger," Asakayama, formerly ozeki Kaio, said. Speaking after his loss to Kotoshoho on Sunday in Nagoya, Aonishiki indicated his strong desire to continue climbing toward sumo's upper echelon. "My sumo life starts from here," he said.
NHK
3 days ago
- Sport
- NHK
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki cheered on from hometown
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki has narrowly missed out on his first top-division championship in Japan's latest Grand Sumo Tournament. But his former coach remains hopeful that he will one day reach the sport's highest rank of Yokozuna. Aonishiki is originally from Vnnytsia in western Ukraine. He lost a crucial match to Kotoshoho on the final day of the Nagoya tournament on Sunday. A win would have secured him a place in a championship playoff. His former coach, Vazha Daiauri, runs a sports club in Vnnytsia and has supported Aonishiki since he was a child. Aonishiki took up judo at age 6 and later switched to sumo. Daiauri trained him until he left Ukraine to escape the Russian invasion. Daiauri watched the final-day bouts on TV. He looked anxious when Aonishiki stepped onto the ring. The former coach cheered, saying a firm grip on the mawashi belt would lead to victory. But Aonishiki lost by a thrust-down. Daiauri said he thinks the wrestler was too fired up and couldn't secure a grip. He added that it was frustrating and very disappointing. Still, Daiauri expressed hope that Aonishiki's future success will inspire the people of Ukraine. He noted that the wrestler moved to Japan at just 18, not knowing the language. He said Aonishiki's journey is just beginning and he is sure the wrestler will become a Yokozuna one day.
The Mainichi
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Nagoya victory still sinking in for 1st-time champion Kotoshoho
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament winner Kotoshoho said Monday he was still coming to grips with his first top-division championship. Competing as a rank-and-file No. 15 maegashira, the 25-year-old Chiba Prefecture native lifted the Emperor's Cup with a 13-2 record Sunday following his win over rising Ukrainian star Aonishiki. "It still feels strange to think that I won the championship," Kotoshoho said during a press conference at his Sadogatake stable's base in Nagoya. He suffered his only losses back-to-back on the fourth and fifth days before closing out the 15-day tournament on a 10-match winning streak, culminating in his victory against the 21-year-old Aonishiki, who entered the final day trailing Kotoshoho by one bout. Kotoshoho became the inaugural champion at Nagoya's state-of-the-art IG Arena, which was opened ahead of the 15-day tournament. His win streak included a Day 13 takedown of new yokozuna Onosato, earning Kotoshoho his first career "kinboshi" award for beating a grand champion as a rank-and-file wrestler. "I wasn't nervous and was able to focus on my opening attack when I stepped onto the ring," he said of the streak. "I was able to concentrate more in the second half of the tournament." The newly crowned champion said he was able to "use the lessons I learned" from a previous title tilt at the 2023 New Year tournament that ended with his final-day defeat to ozeki Takakeisho. Blessed with a 190-centimeter, 167-kilogram physique, Kotoshoho was tipped for big things after entering the sumo world in November 2017 out of one of the sport's renowned nurseries, Saitama Sakae High School. He debuted in the elite makuuchi division in July 2020 and achieved a career-high ranking of maegashira No. 3 in January 2021, but has largely struggled to live up to the high expectations and has bounced between the top two divisions. Despite dealing with pain in his right thigh, the powerfully built grappler got on a roll in Nagoya by committing to his brand of attacking sumo. He indicated the championship would not affect his approach to the next grand tournament in September. "I want to do what I need to do without getting carried away," he said.
Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Asahi Shimbun
SUMO/ Kotoshoho wins 1st championship at Nagoya basho in new arena
Kotoshoho defeats Aonishiki to win his first championship on July 27 at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament held at IG Arena. (Masaaki Kobayashi) Rank-and-filer Kotoshoho stole the spotlight in the first tournament featuring two yokozuna in four years, capturing his first top-division championship on July 27 at the newly relocated Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament held at IG Arena. The 25-year-old Chiba Prefecture-born wrestler, whose real name is Toshiki Tebakari, defeated Aonishiki, a maegashira No. 1, on the final day to seal the Emperor's Cup with an impressive 13-2 record. Kotoshoho's triumph marks the first time a maegashira wrestler has won a makuuchi division tournament since Takerufuji's surprise victory in the spring tournament last year. Takerufuji was a maegashira No. 17, the lowest among all wrestlers in the makuuchi division. Kotoshoho, a maegashira No. 15, enjoyed a championship run notable for his victories over opponents from the top ranks, including yokozuna, sekiwake and komusubi. He defeated newly minted yokozuna Onosato on Day 13 in a stirring showdown. The 190-centimeter, 167-kilogram rikishi utilized his favored migi-yotsu (right-hand inside grip) and yori (driving) techniques to overpower opponents throughout the 15-day tournament. Having made his professional debut in the November 2017 Kyushu tournament while still a third-year student at Saitama Sakae High School, Kotoshoho entered the top division in July 2020. Adding to his family accomplishments, Kotoshoho's younger brother, Kotoeiho, made his top-division debut at this same tournament. The two wrestlers, both from the Sadogatake stable, became the 13th pair of brothers in history to compete together in the makuuchi division.
Kyodo News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Nagoya victory still sinking in for 1st-time champion Kotoshoho
NAGOYA - Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament winner Kotoshoho said Monday he was still coming to grips with his first top-division championship. Competing as a rank-and-file No. 15 maegashira, the 25-year-old Chiba Prefecture native lifted the Emperor's Cup with a 13-2 record Sunday following his win over rising Ukrainian star Aonishiki. "It still feels strange to think that I won the championship," Kotoshoho said during a press conference at his Sadogatake stable's base in Nagoya. He suffered his only losses back-to-back on the fourth and fifth days before closing out the 15-day tournament on a 10-match winning streak, culminating in his victory against the 21-year-old Aonishiki, who entered the final day trailing Kotoshoho by one bout. Kotoshoho became the inaugural champion at Nagoya's state-of-the-art IG Arena, which was opened ahead of the 15-day tournament. His win streak included a Day 13 takedown of new yokozuna Onosato, earning Kotoshoho his first career "kinboshi" award for beating a grand champion as a rank-and-file wrestler. "I wasn't nervous and was able to focus on my opening attack when I stepped onto the ring," he said of the streak. "I was able to concentrate more in the second half of the tournament." The newly crowned champion said he was able to "use the lessons I learned" from a previous title tilt at the 2023 New Year tournament that ended with his final-day defeat to ozeki Takakeisho. Blessed with a 190-centimeter, 167-kilogram physique, Kotoshoho was tipped for big things after entering the sumo world in November 2017 out of one of the sport's renowned nurseries, Saitama Sakae High School. He debuted in the elite makuuchi division in July 2020 and achieved a career-high ranking of maegashira No. 3 in January 2021, but has largely struggled to live up to the high expectations and has bounced between the top two divisions. Despite dealing with pain in his right thigh, the powerfully built grappler got on a roll in Nagoya by committing to his brand of attacking sumo. He indicated the championship would not affect his approach to the next grand tournament in September. "I want to do what I need to do without getting carried away," he said.
