J11 – Harumafuji permet à Hakuho de prendre l’avantage

Hakuho benefited from a slip-up by fellow Mongolian grand champion Harumafuji on Wednesday to seize sole possession of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament lead with four days remaining.

On a day when Kisenosato became the second grand champion after Kakuryu to make an injury-enforced exit from the 15-day tournament, 37-time Emperor’s Cup winner Hakuho improved his mark to 11-0 at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Harumafuji is alone in second at 10-1, while promotion-chasing sekiwake Takayasu, ozeki Terunofuji, and the 10th-ranked maegashira pair of Ura and Tochinoshin are tied for third at 9-2.

Hakuho was given a run for his money in the day’s penultimate bout, but once again came through with flying colors, scoring a clinical uwatehineri twisting overarm throw against ozeki Goeido to keep his spotless record.

Fighting with his rank on the line for the fifth time in his career, Goeido dropped to 6-5 and needs to win at least two more bouts to avoid demotion to sekiwake for the July meet in Nagoya.

Hakuho seized control when Harumafuji inadvertently stepped over the straw bales to hand komusubi Mitakeumi his fifth win.

In a not entirely unexpected move earlier in the day, Kisenosato pulled out of the tournament with upper body injuries he initially sustained during the Spring meet in March.

Kisenosato rushed his rehab in order to bid for a third consecutive championship title but it was clear from the opening day that he was still struggling with his fitness issues.

As if to illustrate the point, the Tagonoura star on Tuesday was easily bumped out of the ring by struggling sekiwake Kotoshogiku, who had previously only won two bouts.

« After seeing how he wrestled yesterday we decided he should pull out as he is in no condition for decent sumo, » said Kisensato’s stablemaster Tagonoura.

« He was desperate but just because he’s a yokozuna doesn’t mean he should compete under any circumstances. He’ll get treated and turn his focus to the next tournament. »

Back on the raised ring, Takayasu put fourth-ranked maegashira Tochiozan (5-6) on his knees to move within one win of the 10 he needs here — or 33 over three straight tournaments — to be considered for promotion to sumo’s second-highest rank of ozeki.

Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji had his hands full with Aoiyama (2-9) but bided his time and came through with an overarm throw to put the Bulgarian No. 3 maegashira on the dirt.

Kotoshogiku survived another day, tipping top-ranked maegashira Chiyonokuni (2-9) over the edge of ring to improve to 4-7.

Kotoshogiku narrowly missed out on a swift return to ozeki at the last tournament, where he posted a 9-6 record.

Written by Kyodo