Top division sumo debutant Takerufuji defeated wrestler Gonoyama to claim a historic championship on Sunday at the Big Sumo spring tournament, The Japan Times reported on March 24.
The 24-year-old wrestler from Aomori Prefecture compiled a 13-2 record at Osaka’s Edion Arena and became the first wrestler since Ryogoku in 1914 to win his first 15-day competition in the elite makuuchi division.
He also won his first Emperor’s Cup faster than any competitor since sumo adopted the current schedule of six major annual tournaments in 1958, with his official debut taking place in September 2022.
Just another fighter maegashira Fifth-seeded Onosato remained in the standings at 11-3 heading into the final day, with its hopes of deciding the championship resting on a possible loss to Takerufuji.
Takerufuji’s victory was even more notable as he was nursing a serious ankle injury sustained during Saturday’s loss to maegashira No. 1 Asanoyama, who prevented him from regaining the title on Saturday.
He was wheeled backstage in a wheelchair, raising questions about his future participation in the tournament, but he dispelled all doubts when he entered the arena on Sunday.
“I did it by sheer force of will. “I didn’t really understand what was happening.”Takerufuji said of his decisive victory on the 15th.
“I injured the ligament in my right ankle on the 14th. My coach advised me to give up, but I knew that if I did I would regret it for the rest of my life. “If you ever ask me to do this again, I don’t know how to do it.”.
Lone yokozuna Terunofuji’s teammate at Isegahama received the Outstanding Achievement Award, the Technique Award and the Morale Award for his efforts.
His path to the title included victories over numerous opponents from three prominent sanyaku is located below yokozunaincluding new ones ozeki Kotonovaka and sekiwake Wakamotoharu.
Onosato, 23, also aims to make history as the fastest to win a top flight title. With only six major tournaments under his belt, he will have additional opportunities to break the record.
He was unable to increase his win total on the final day against Ozeki Hoshoryu (11-4). The Mongolian-born wrestler demonstrated outstanding technique to take down Onosato (11-4) with an underarm throw.
Ozeki Kirishima (5-10) took a small consolation at the end of a nightmare tournament by winning a long battle with Kotonowaka (10-5).
Wakamotoharu (9-6) finished the fight brilliantly, defeating former ozeki Asanoyama (9-6), who is about to return to sanyaka.
Terunofuji (2-5-8), injured, withdrew from competition for a week due to lower back pain and other health problems.
Having started the tournament as a “kadoban” ozeki threatened with demotion, Takakeiso (8-6-1) also withdrew due to injury after posting a winning record that kept him in second place in the standings.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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