Sumo: Abi condemns Hoshoryu to 2nd loss, Onosato among 5 unbeaten

Kyodo
May 15, 2025

TOKYO -- Yokozuna Hoshoryu fell to No. 2 maegashira Abi for his second successive defeat at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday as promotion-chasing ozeki Onosato remained among five wrestlers to stay perfect after the opening four days.

A day after going down to Oho, Hoshoryu (2-2) quickly found himself on the sand again as the grand champion had no answer to the ruthless push to the throat followed by a sudden pull down from Abi (1-3) at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.

"I've been moving well from the first day," Abi, who has now beaten Hoshoryu four times in a row, said after his first win of the meet. "I'm concentrating well and I want to continue doing so."

Mongolian-born Hoshoryu is enduring a tough start to his time at the exalted rank after he pulled out of the Spring meet in March with a right elbow injury to finish 5-5.

March champion Onosato (4-0) had no trouble receiving the opening push from Oho (3-1), charged forward producing powerful shoves and ousted the No. 1 maegashira in a matter of seconds, ending his opponent's perfect start to the 15-day meet.

Onosato can secure his promotion to yokozuna by winning another Emperor's Cup this month or posting a result deemed as good.

Sekiwake Daieisho (4-0) produced his trademark shoves to emphatically push out komusubi Takayasu (1-3), continuing his bid for ozeki promotion. A highly challenging 13 wins would likely be necessary, which would suffice the usual standard of 33 wins over three straight meets as either sekiwake or komusubi.

No. 7 maegashira Hakuoho is enjoying a fine start to the meet as he added another win after producing a quick slap to the face of Onokatsu (2-2) and wasted no second in grappling the No. 8 maegashira over the straws.

The 21-year-old, who fought for the title until the final day on his top-tier makuuchi debut in July 2023, had left shoulder surgery soon after and only returned to makuuchi this January.

No. 11 maegashira Endo and No. 16 maegashira Nishikigi won their bouts to stay in the leading pack.

Wakatakakage (3-1) handed No. 4 maegashira Takerufuji (3-1) his first defeat as a low drive from the komusubi left the rank-and-filer with no room to counter.

Ozeki Kotozakura (2-2) evened his mark after forcing out No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu (0-4), while sekiwake Kirishima (3-1) easily shoved out No. 3 maegashira Hiradoumi (2-2).