Onosato proves he’s the real deal
After 15 straight days of action Grand Sumo has crowned its latest champion. The 23-year-old Onosato earned the title on the final day of the competition, defeating Abi via oshidashi (frontal push out) to secure his tournament leading 12-3 record.
Had Onosato lost on Day 15 he would have been forced into a play-off with Abi, Daieisho and Kotozakura.
Onosato wins his first makuuchi (top division) yusho (championship) in only his third top division tournament. He debuted in the makuuchi in January and finished runner-up in his debut tournament. He also finished runner-up in the March tournament, behind Takerufuji (who made history as the first man to win his debut top division tournament in 91 years).
Onosato was competing in May as a komusubi (the lowest of the special san’yaku rankings). He is the first debut san’yaku wrestler to win a championship in 67 years.
For Onosato this victory proves he has been worth all the hype he has generated ever since his high school days. He was considered an elite prospect in both high school and college and his achievements there allowed him to enter pro sumo at the makushita (third division) level.
In this most recent tournament Onosato showed off new nuances to his game. Though most of his victories came via his impressive shoving assault he, on occasion, also utilised some grappling, particularly in his wins over Kotozakura and Atamifuji. This more diverse game earned him a gino-sho (technique prize). He also received a shukun-sho (outstanding performance prize) for his efforts.
Top division rookie Oshoma, who impressed with a 10-5 record, earned a kanto-sho (fighting spirit prize).
Injuries wreak havoc at the summer tournament
Onosato’s championship win was utterly deserved and he looked like the best wrestler on the dohyo this month. However, the summer tournament was marred by a number of high profile injuries.
March tournament winner Takerufuji and former ozeki Asanoyama missed the entire tournament due to injury. Yokozuna Terunofuji and ozeki Takakeisho pulled out of the competition on Day 2, following losses to Onosato and Hiradoumi respectively.
Ozeki Kirishima pulled out on Day 7 after a terrible 1-6 start to the competition. Kirishima, who was reportedly suffering from a lingering neck injury, will be demoted from ozeki at the next tournament due to having two back-to-back losing records.
Sekiwake Wakamotoharu and Takayasu also spent days out of the competition due to injury.
Hoshoryu lasted the entire tournament and finished with a satisfactory 10-5 record. However, he looked as if he was carrying an injury throughout the tournament. The expert judoka seemed to avoid throws, perhaps due to the strain they might cause his body.
Wakatakakage is makuuchi bound
Popular former sekiwake Wakatakakage won the juryo (second division) championship. Wakaktakakge had been working on an ozeki promotion before he tore his ACL in a bout with Kotozakura in March 2023. The following surgery and rehab resulted in Wakatakakage missing three tournaments and, as a result, being demoted to the third division.
He returned to action last November (far earlier than athletes in other sports would dare return from such an injury) and won the third division title in January to earn his promotion to juryo.
This juryo championship will almost certainly see him promoted back up to makuuchi, where he can compete alongside his brother Wakamotoharu.
Other news and notes from sumo’s 2024 natsu basho
In the first week of the natsu basho it seemed as though Ura might be a contender to win his first Emperor’s Cup. The ever-popular pink clad rikishi won his first six bouts, shattering his personal winning streak record. However, the wheels fell off in week two and Ura slumped to a make-koshi (losing record) after eight straight losses.
24-year-old Hiradoumi managed a 9-6 record while ranked maegashira 2 (his highest ever ranking). That will likely see him promoted to komusubi.
Recent tournament runner-up Atamifuji struggled in May, losing to Takaknosho on the final day of the competition to receive a 7-8 record.
Highly touted prospect Onokatsu went 13-2 in his first juryo tournament. Formerly highly touted prospect Hakuoho (and Hakuho protege) slumped to a 5-6-4 record after injuring his bicep. Hakuoho, who is still only 20, is coming off of shoulder surgery from last year.
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