TOKYO – Yokozuna Onosato stumbled to his first defeat four days into the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday as No. 2 maegashira Hakuoho got the better of the grand champion for the second straight meet.
Onosato (3-1), seeking his first Emperor’s Cup as a yokozuna, made a solid opening charge but was left flustered as stocky Hakuoho (2-2) did not back off before instantly driving forward instead at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Onosato stepped to his left to dodge the ensuing attack from Hakuoho and left him near the edge of the dohyo, but followed up with an unconvincing shove and drive to allow Hakuoho, who had his right foot on the straw bales, to snatch the win with a thrust down.
“I went in determined never to step backward, and keep my feet moving forward,” said Hakuoho, who vied for the title on his makuuchi debut in July 2023 before a left shoulder surgery saw him return to the elite division this January.
“I went up to the dohyo thinking there would definitely be a chance once he takes a step back…Beating a yokozuna boosts my confidence.”
Another yokozuna Hoshoryu (4-0) continued his best start out of four tournaments at the exalted rank after taking full advantage of a half-baked dodging attempt from Abi (0-4) at the start and shoving the No. 1 maegashira out within seconds.
Sekiwake Kirishima is the only other wrestler with a perfect record at the 15-day meet as the former ozeki kept his cool against a bulldozing Gonoyama (0-4) before flooring the No. 3 maegashira with a pulling underarm throw.
Ozeki Kotozakura (3-1), on a mediocre run of three straight 8-7 records at the second highest rank, stood firm against No. 1 maegashira Tamawashi (1-3) off the opening charge before sidestepping to the left to send the veteran flying out of the raised ring with a thrust down.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage (2-2) evened his mark with a sound force-out win against komusubi Takayasu (0-4), the ozeki promotion hopeful grabbing the belt with his right and then left to grapple out the former ozeki.
With 11 wins this month, Wakatakakage will reach the usual ozeki promotion standard of 33 wins from three straight tournaments fighting as a sekiwake or komusubi.
New komusubi Aonishiki (2-2) was upended by No. 2 maegashira Oho (2-2), who countered the Ukrainian’s left underarm throw with a powerful right armlock throw.
