J10 – Takakeisho poursuit sa domination

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) — Komusubi Takakeisho remains the sole leader after he improved to a 9-1 record on Tuesday with five days remaining at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

Takakeisho, whose only defeat came on Day 7 to sekiwake Mitakeumi, beat top-ranked maegashira Hokutofuji (5-5) in a one-sided bout on the 10th day of the meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Takakeisho delivered a series of shoves to Hokutofuji’s chest and did not give his opponent a foothold in the clash, bulldozing the maegashira out of the raised ring in 3.2 seconds.

The 22-year-old Takakeisho is aiming for his first top makuuchi division championship at the 15-day tournament in Fukuoka. He beat grand champion Kisenosato on Day 1 and two ozeki — Goeido and Tochinoshin — to move into the lead. He will face No. 2 maegashira Tochiozan (6-4) on Wednesday.

Ozeki Takayasu remains one win behind Takakeisho following his win over No. 5 maegashira Chiyotairyu (5-5).

Other ozeki, Tochinoshin and Goeido, both managed to post wins.

Georgian Tochinoshin (5-5) beat the division’s heaviest wrestler, sekiwake Ichinojo (3-7). Both wrestlers got double handholds on their opponent’s belt, but it was Tochinoshin who outmuscled the 227-kilogram Mongolian following a brief belly-to-belly stalemate in the center of the dohyo.

In the shortest bout of the day, Goeido got hold of No. 5 Asanoyama’s belt with his left hand and sent the maegashira into the clay.

Three maegashira wrestlers — No. 12 Aoiyama, No. 13 Onosho and No. 9 Daieisho — are tied with Takayasu after improving to 8-2.

Onosho showed great confidence by charging No. 14 Chiyoshoma (5-5). Onosho competed as a komusubi at the January meet but fell to the juryo second division in May after sustaining a right-knee injury.

« My winning record is a result of concentrating on each of my bouts, » Onosho said. « My knee is better and it is the best it has been since the injury. »

Daieisho survived a scare and won his bout against No. 13 Takanosho (3-7). Daieisho was dragged toward the dohyo edge, but he managed to get his lower-ranked opponent down before stepping out of the ring.

Mitakeumi (5-5), who won his maiden makuuchi championship in July, suffered his second straight loss. No. 4 Shodai (5-5) got his left arm around Mitakeumi’s body and sent him out.

All three grand champions — Mongolians Hakuho and Kakuryu, as well as Japanese-born Kisenosato — have pulled out of the Kyushu basho, the final meet of the year, due to injury.