J4 – Endo terrasse Kisenosato pour la 3e fois

Kisenosato crashed to a second defeat at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament after the yokozuna was upset by top-ranked maegashira Endo on the fourth day of action on Wednesday.

Kisenosato, who is gunning for a third straight title, was made to pay for not finishing Endo off at Ryogoku Kokugikan and dropped two wins off the pace.

Fellow grand champions Hakuho and Harumafuji both won to share the lead along with sekiwake Takayasu at 4-0 at the 15-day meet, but yokozuna Kakuryu fluffed his lines again and dropped to 1-3.

Kisenosato, who is recovering from left upper arm and chest injuries sustained at the Spring tourney in March, missed a golden opportunity to take Endo down after the maegashira lost his footing at the center of the ring.

But instead of pulling him down by the back of the neck he allowed Endo (2-2) to surge forward and shunt him over the straw bales.

In the day’s final bout, Hakuho, sumo’s most successful wrestler with 37 Emperor’s Cups, bided his time before resorting to brute strength to bump out second-ranked maegashira Okinoumi (0-4) and stay perfect.

Harumafuji made short work of Chiyonokuni (1-3), the Mongolian easily blasting out the top-ranked maegashira to retain his share of the lead.

But Kakuryu crashed to a third defeat, the retreating yokozuna stepping out of the ring in the face of a strong attack from komusubi Yoshikaze (3-1).

Yoshikaze claimed his second yokozuna scalp of the tournament following an opening-day win over Kisenosato.

Takayasu came back from the brink to take down komusubi Mitakeumi (3-1) with a kubinage headlock throw and stay on course for a shot at promotion to ozeki.

Takayasu won a combined 23 bouts over the last two tournaments and needs 10 victories at this meet to be considered for promotion to second-highest rank.

Former ozeki Kotoshogiku (1-3) finally chalked up his first win of the tournament, claiming sekiwake bragging rights by bellying out Tamawashi (2-2).

In other bouts of note, Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji posted his second straight win, flooring second-ranked maegashira Chiyoshoma (1-3) with a textbook beltless arm throw to level his mark at 2-2.

Goeido completed a winning day for ozeki, also moving to 2-2 after barging out third-ranked maegashira Daieisho (0-4).

Goeido pulled out of the spring tourney in March with an ankle injury and needs to post a minimum of eight wins here to retain his ozeki status.

Written by Kyodo