Sumo: Terunofuji seals winning record after 8 straight wins at Nagoya

KYODO NEWS
July 22, 2024

Yokozuna Terunofuji fended off Shonannoumi on Sunday to secure a winning record for the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in just eight days.

Sole leader Terunofuji (8-0) opted to attack his similarly well-built opponent Shonannoumi (5-3) from the start and quickly seized a left overarm belt hold before grappling out the No. 5 maegashira at Dolphins Arena in their first career bout.

Terunofuji (R) collects his winner's prizes after defeating Shonannoumi at Nagoya's Dolphins Arena on July 21, 2024. (Kyodo)
After missing most of the last two tournaments with injury, Terunofuji remains on course to secure his 10th Emperor's Cup and the first of his career in Nagoya.

Kotozakura is the highest ranked of Terunofuji's three closest pursuers with 6-2 records. The ozeki gave No. 4 maegashira Ura (3-5) no room to exploit and needed little time to thrust out the trickster, who tested Terunofuji right until the end of their bout on Saturday.

Kotozakura (L) thrusts out Ura in their bout at Nagoya's Dolphins Arena on July 21, 2024. (Kyodo)

Former ozeki Shodai (6-2) won his sixth straight bout, the No. 10 maegashira thrust down former sekiwake and current No. 14 maegashira Wakatakakage (5-3). No. 12 maegashira Churanoumi (6-2) forced out No. 17 rank-and-filer Nishikifuji (3-5).

Demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Takakeisho (3-5) ended his two-day losing run with a push-out win over sekiwake Kirishima (4-4). Takakeisho can remain at the second-highest rank with eight or more wins here.

Kirishima can afford only one more defeat this month to secure his return to ozeki with 10 or more wins in the first tournament following demotion.

Ozeki Hoshoryu (5-3) slapped down Daieisho (5-3) at the edge of the raised ring as the komusubi's four-day winning run came to a halt.

May's Summer champion, new sekiwake Onosato (5-3), won his fourth straight bout after his underwhelming start in Nagoya. No. 4 maegashira Tobizaru (4-4) jumped to his left while trying an inside ankle sweep, but an unperturbed Onosato kept a close eye on his lively and unpredictable opponent before shoving him out.