J4 : La revanche des ôzeki

Lone yokozuna Kakuryu maintained his pursuit of a sixth top-level title Wednesday by beating Endo on Day 4 of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

The Mongolian pushed out the No. 2 maegashira in the final bout of the day at Ryogoku Kokugikan to improve to a perfect 4-0.

After shoving Endo (1-3) backward, Kakuryu yanked him off balance and drove him out from behind, getting the result in less elegant fashion than his previous wins at the 15-day tournament.

Sekiwake Tochinoshin (4-0) finished the day as the only undefeated wrestler in the three sanyaku ranks below yokozuna. The burly Georgian made another stride toward regaining ozeki status with a gritty front forceout victory over No. 3 Tamawashi (1-3). The Mongolian maegashira forced Tochinoshin backward with a thrusting attack, but the sekiwake held his ground before muscling his opponent out from the opposite side of the ring. Tochinoshin, who was demoted after the Spring Basho, can move straight back up to ozeki, the sport’s second-highest rank, with at least 10 wins here.

All three current ozeki returned to the winner’s circle following losses on Day 3.

In a highly anticipated bout, newly promoted Takakeisho moved to 3-1 by beating one of his most troublesome opponents, Mitakeumi. The komusubi had won seven of their 10 previous encounters, including the past five in a row. Takekeisho flew into Mitakeumi with both hands but was unable to push him out. With the pair wrapped up chest to chest, Takakeisho dug deep to hoist Mitakeumi (2-2) out backward. The win may have come at a cost, however, as Takakeisho limped from the ring with a possible leg injury.

Ozeki Goeido improved to 3-1 with an overarm-throw victory over former ozeki Kotoshogiku (1-3). After absorbing his opponent’s opening charge, the Sakaigawa stable wrestler showed his throwing prowess by twisting Kotoshogiku to the clay.

Takayasu improved to 2-2 after thrusting out No. 1 Hokutofuji (1-3). The Taganoura stable grappler, who is aiming for his maiden top-level trophy, overwhelmed his opponent from the jump with a relentless thrusting attack.

Sekiwake Ichinojo (2-2) eased to victory over winless No. 4 Okinoumi. The Mongolian giant took a double outside grip and used his roughly 60-kg weight advantage to drive his rank-and-file opponent out backward.

All-time championship record-holder Hakuho is sitting out the meet after injuring his biceps in a final-day victory over Kakuryu at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, which he won with a perfect 15-0 record.

Written by Kyodo