Latest news with #Emperor'sCup
The Mainichi
a day ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: 40-yr-old Tamawashi topples Onosato as Ichiyamamoto keeps lead
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Forty-year-old Tamawashi stunned Onosato to set a record as the oldest rank-and-file winner against a yokozuna on Tuesday as No. 8 maegashira and surprise leader Ichiyamamoto remained in control of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament title race. Mongolian-born No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi (8-2) was kept on the back foot against Onosato (7-3) but showed great tenacity belying his age to never surrender full control before thrusting down the yokozuna debutant at the edge for a historic "kinboshi" win at IG Arena. "It feels great," said the two-time Emperor's Cup winner and former sekiwake Tamawashi, who continues to rewrite his own record of 1,700-plus consecutive appearances since his March 2004 debut. "I was filled with excitement heading into this bout (against Onosato). I still have a lot left in me." Onosato has handed out three kinboshi during the current meet, tying the worst record for a yokozuna debutant. A day after taking the outright lead, Ichiyamamoto (9-1) continued his scintillating form by pushing down former sekiwake Meisei (3-7). Having backed off slightly at the start, Ichiyamamoto went on the offensive and kept driving at the No. 5 maegashira en route to a morale-boosting win. Five wrestlers joined Tamawashi in improving to 8-2 and securing a winning record at the 15-day meet, with sekiwake Kirishima ranked the highest. The former ozeki found a tiny opening to grab hold of lively No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-5) in a frontal-crush-out win. Ukrainian Aonishiki beat Kazakhstani Kinbozan (2-8) to stay in the title race as the No. 1 maegashira's timely pull-down attempt had his No. 3-ranked opponent touching the sand with both hands seconds into the contest. "It wasn't the best of bouts but I'm happy to have secured a winning record," said Aonishiki, who went 11-4 in his first two tournaments at the elite makuuchi division. "My body is moving well so it's been good so far." Top-division debutant Kusano (8-2) had a hard bout against trickster Ura (6-4), who scurried around the raised ring in the face of the No. 14 maegashira's pressure, but he eventually pushed the No. 9 maegashira out from behind to secure a winning record for the 15-day tournament. No. 15 maegashira Kotoshoho and No. 16 maegasihra Mitakeumi, a former ozeki, also won their bouts to keep up the pressure on Ichiyamamoto. Ozeki Kotozakura (5-5) slumped to his third straight defeat, meanwhile, after getting outlasted and forced out by Wakatakakage (6-4) in a long, grueling encounter.
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: 40-yr-old Tamawashi topples Onosato as Ichiyamamoto keeps lead
NAGOYA - Forty-year-old Tamawashi stunned Onosato to set a record as the oldest rank-and-file winner against a yokozuna on Tuesday as No. 8 maegashira and surprise leader Ichiyamamoto remained in control of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament title race. Mongolian-born No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi (8-2) was kept on the back foot against Onosato (7-3) but showed great tenacity belying his age to never surrender full control before thrusting down the yokozuna debutant at the edge for a historic "kinboshi" win at IG Arena. "It feels great," said the two-time Emperor's Cup winner and former sekiwake Tamawashi, who continues to rewrite his own record of 1,700-plus consecutive appearances since his March 2004 debut. "I was filled with excitement heading into this bout (against Onosato). I still have a lot left in me." Onosato has handed out three kinboshi during the current meet, tying the worst record for a yokozuna debutant. A day after taking the outright lead, Ichiyamamoto (9-1) continued his scintillating form by pushing down former sekiwake Meisei (3-7). Having backed off slightly at the start, Ichiyamamoto went on the offensive and kept driving at the No. 5 maegashira en route to a morale-boosting win. Five wrestlers joined Tamawashi in improving to 8-2 and securing a winning record at the 15-day meet, with sekiwake Kirishima ranked the highest. The former ozeki found a tiny opening to grab hold of lively No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-5) in a frontal-crush-out win. Ukrainian Aonishiki beat Kazakhstani Kinbozan (2-8) to stay in the title race as the No. 1 maegashira's timely pull-down attempt had his No. 3-ranked opponent touching the sand with both hands seconds into the contest. "It wasn't the best of bouts but I'm happy to have secured a winning record," said Aonishiki, who went 11-4 in his first two tournaments at the elite makuuchi division. "My body is moving well so it's been good so far." Top-division debutant Kusano (8-2) had a hard bout against trickster Ura (6-4), who scurried around the raised ring in the face of the No. 14 maegashira's pressure, but he eventually pushed the No. 9 maegashira out from behind to secure a winning record. No. 15 maegashira Kotoshoho and No. 16 maegasihra Mitakeumi, a former ozeki, also won their bouts to keep up the pressure on Ichiyamamoto. Ozeki Kotozakura (5-5) slumped to his third straight defeat, meanwhile, after getting outlasted and forced out by Wakatakakage (6-4) in a long, grueling encounter.
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Surprise leader Ichiyamamoto 1st to record 8 wins at IG Arena
NAGOYA - Unheralded No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto found himself in an unfamiliar position Monday as outright leader of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after becoming the first wrestler to seal a winning record at the new IG Arena. The 31-year-old from Hokkaido improved to 8-1 with a victory over sixth-ranked maegashira Gonoyama before his three overnight co-leaders, including sekiwake Kirishima, incurred losses on Day 9. While he regularly opens with a hand thrust, Ichiyamamoto attacked head-first against fellow Chuo University alumnus Gonoyama. "I didn't want to lose," Ichiyamamoto said. "I thought he'd get the upper hand if I didn't hit him firmly." Ichiyamamoto served as an attendant in the grand champion's ring-entry ceremony for the first time on Day 9, standing in for komusubi Takayasu ahead of his match with yokozuna Onosato. The maegashira said he was relieved that the newly promoted Onosato went on to win the day's ultimate bout. "If I was the attendant and the yokozuna lost, it would seem like I brought him bad luck," Ichiyamamoto said. The pusher-thruster from the Hanaregoma stable has not led at this stage of a 15-day tournament since the November 2023 Kyushu meet, when he went on to win 11 bouts and earn a Fighting Spirit Prize. The last wrestler from Hokkaido to lift the Emperor's Cup was yokozuna Hokutoumi, now Japan Sumo Association chief Hakkaku, at the 1991 Spring meet. "Ichiyamamoto has a great opportunity," Hakkaku said. "I hope he can stay in the running for the championship for as long as possible." Ichiyamamato, whose career high ranking is maegashira No. 4, said he simply hoped to move up in the rankings before heading back to his home prefecture next month during sumo's summer tour. "I want to go home with good results," he said. "I hope I can move up at least one rank."
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Onosato beats Takayasu, Ichiyamamoto takes sole lead in Nagoya
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- New yokozuna Onosato scored a bounce-back win over komusubi Takayasu at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, as rank-and-file wrestler Ichiyamamoto emerged as the surprise outright leader. A day after his upset loss to up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho, Onosato (7-2) went back to basics with a dominant performance against former ozeki Takayasu (6-3) on Day 9 at IG Arena. Onosato, the lone grand champion in Nagoya after Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal, blasted Takayasu backward at the jump and forced him over the straw bales. The win keeps the debutant yokozuna in strong contention for his third consecutive Emperor's Cup and fifth overall. Having started the day on the top rung of the leaderboard alongside sekiwake Kirishima, veteran iron man Tamawashi and top-division debutant Kusano, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto took sole possession of first place by advancing to 8-1 before the other front-runners lost one after another. The 31-year-old Hokkaido native clinched his all-important eighth win by pulling down No. 6 maegashira Gonoyama (5-4). Ichiyamamoto said it was "an honor" to be the first sumo wrestler to achieve a winning record at the new IG Arena, but there was still "a long way to go" at the 15-day tournament. "I'm sure I'll get tired, but I'll try to remain focused and continue racking up wins," Ichiyamamoto said. Kirishima (7-2) became the latest big name to fall to the 21-year-old Hakuoho (5-4), who came in low and hard with his opening charge and did not allow the former ozeki to gain any forward momentum on the way to victory by push out. Of the other overnight leaders, No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (3-6), and No. 14 maegashira Kusano was pushed out by No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (6-3). Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-4 as he was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (2-7), who staved off a losing record with the upset. Exciting young Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki (7-2) stayed one win back from the lead by beating fellow No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu (2-7) with a superbly executed twisting underarm throw. Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 5-4 by forcing out No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-4).
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato beats Takayasu, Ichiyamamoto takes sole lead in Nagoya
NAGOYA - New yokozuna Onosato scored a bounce-back win over komusubi Takayasu at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, as rank-and-file wrestler Ichiyamamoto emerged as the surprise outright leader. A day after his upset loss to up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho, Onosato (7-2) went back to basics with a dominant performance against former ozeki Takayasu (6-3) on Day 9 at IG Arena. Onosato, the lone grand champion in Nagoya after Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal, blasted Takayasu backward at the jump and forced him over the straw bales. The win keeps the debutant yokozuna in strong contention for his third consecutive Emperor's Cup and fifth overall. Having started the day on the top rung of the leaderboard alongside sekiwake Kirishima, veteran iron man Tamawashi and top-division debutant Kusano, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto took sole possession of first place by advancing to 8-1 before the other front-runners lost one after another. The 31-year-old Hokkaido native clinched his all-important eighth win by pulling down No. 6 maegashira Gonoyama (5-4). Ichiyamamoto said it was "an honor" to be the first sumo wrestler to achieve a winning record at the new IG Arena, but there was still "a long way to go" at the 15-day tournament. "I'm sure I'll get tired, but I'll try to remain focused and continue racking up wins," Ichiyamamoto said. Kirishima (7-2) became the latest big name to fall to the 21-year-old Hakuoho (5-4), who came in low and hard with his opening charge and did not allow the former ozeki to gain any forward momentum on the way to victory by push out. Of the other overnight leaders, No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (3-6), and No. 14 maegashira Kusano was pushed out by No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (6-3). Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-4 as he was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (2-7), who staved off a losing record with the upset. Exciting young Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki (7-2) stayed one win back from the lead by beating fellow No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu (2-7) with a superbly executed twisting underarm throw. Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 5-4 by forcing out No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-4).
