Ozeki Hoshoryu handed No. 3 maegashira Oho his first defeat of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament after seven days on Saturday to keep his yokozuna promotion bid on track.
Hoshoryu (6-1) had the better opening at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan that left Oho (6-1) facing sideways. Oho kept himself in the ring after being driven to the edge only for the relentless Hoshoryu to get behind him and earn an emphatic win by rear push down.
After going 13-2 at November’s Kyushu meet, the Mongolian ozeki can win promotion to yokozuna with a championship-caliber performance this month.
Ozeki Hoshoryu (L) beats Oho on the seventh day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 18, 2025. (Kyodo)
Sumo has had at least one Mongolian-born grand champion since Hoshoryu’s uncle, Asashoryu, was promoted to yokozuna in 2003, a run that is now in jeopardy after Terunofuji’s retirement Friday.
The remaining two overnight leaders, No. 5 maegashira Chiyoshoma and No. 14 Kinbozan each improved to 7-0.
Chiyoshoma won by default after Russian No. 8 rank-and-filer Roga (0-3-4), who missed the first four days of the meet with a hamstring injury, pulled out again.
Kinbozan, from Kazakhstan, overpowered No. 17 maegashira Tokihayate (3-4), pushing his smaller opponent in the chest and throat before crushing him out at the edge.
Two other maegashira wrestlers, No. 10 Tamawashi and No. 11 Takerufuji, are one win back of the leaders after winning Saturday.
Ozeki Hoshoryu (C) reacts after beating Oho (L) on the seventh day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 18, 2025. (Kyodo)
Tamawashi bounced back from his first defeat a day earlier. The 40-year-old slapped down No. 12 maegashira Nishikigi (4-3) after both started cautiously.
Takerufuji, who claimed a historic championship last March as a makuuchi-division debutant before spending two meets in the second-tier juryo due to injury, was swung around by No. 9 maegashira Oshoma (4-3) but maintained his balance and eventually shoved his opponent out.
With his yokozuna promotion bid over, ozeki Kotozakura (2-5) ended a five-bout losing run. November’s Kyushu meet champion survived a string of attacks from Gonoyama (4-3) before thrusting down the No. 3 maegashira while his own right foot was atop the straw bales.
Ozeki Onosato (4-3) was tested but turned the tables on No. 2 maegashira Atamifuji (2-5) and forced him out.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Terunofuji ends run of active foreign-born yokozuna since 1993
Sumo: Oho keeps share of lead as Terunofuji’s retirement casts shadow
Sumo: Lone yokozuna Terunofuji retires after injury-plagued career
