19-07-2025
Sumo: Ukrainian starlet Aonishiki continues breakout run in Nagoya
NAGOYA - Rising Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki racked up another impressive victory to keep himself in title contention at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday.
Fighting as a No. 1 maegashira, the 21-year-old defeated Mongolian komusubi Oshoma for his fifth win in seven matches against opponents ranging from yokozuna through the three "sanyaku" ranks below grand champion.
Aonishiki is one win behind grand champion Onosato, who is fighting in his yokozuna debut tournament, and five other co-leaders at Nagoya's new IG Arena.
"I just went with how I felt, instead of watching my opponent's moves," Aonishiki said of his push-out victory over Oshoma.
In only his third tournament in the elite makuuchi division, Aonishiki upset ozeki Kotozakura on the opening day and stunned grand champion Hoshoryu two days later after losing to Onosato.
"We still haven't reached the eighth day (the halfway point of the 15-day tournament), so it feels like the real battle starts now," Aonishiki said.
With his country in the grip of war against Russia, Aonishiki arrived in Japan in April 2022 and now speaks fluent Japanese.
During his fifth-day victory over sekiwake Kirishima, Aonishiki received a strong thrust that left him with bruising around his right eye.
Asked to comment on the wound, the wrestler, who belongs to the Ajigawa stable, quipped, "I don't care. I think I've become a more handsome man."
