J4 – Terunofuji premier ôzeki vaincu

Kotoshogiku’s bid for consecutive titles and a move up to sumo’s ultimate rank of yokozuna continued to gather pace as the ozeki posted a fourth win at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.

Kotoshogiku never gave komusubi Takarafuji (1-3) a chance as he came bursting out of his crouch with all guns blazing at Edion Arena Osaka. Kotoshogiku followed through as Takarafuji teetered on the edge of the ring to headline a group of six sharing the lead at 4-0.

All three Mongolian yokozuna — Hakuho, Kakuryu and Harumafuji — are in a share for second at 3-1

Kotoshogiku posted a surprise maiden championship at the New Year meet in Tokyo in January and another title here will likely see him become the first Japanese-born yokozuna since Wakanohana in 1998.

Hakuho, sumo’s all-time leader with 35 titles, roughed up Okinoumi and went in for dessert with a needless neck thrust after the winless No. 2 maegashira had already stepped over the straw ridge.

Kakuryu had little trouble in posting his third straight win after an opening-day hiccup, hauling down top-ranked maegashira Kotoyuki (3-1). Harumafuji wrapped up the day’s action with a routine shove-out of top-ranked Takayasu (0-4).

In other bouts, Goeido got halfway to the eight wins he needs to keep his ozeki rank, ramming out sekiwake Toyonoshima (1-3) to retain his share of the lead.

Kisenosato (4-0) had too much savvy for Tochinoshin, getting inside the left of the Georgian grappler and forcing him over to a third loss.

But Terunofuji, who like Goeido is faced with the threat of demotion, became the first ozeki to be upset at the tournament, the Mongolian dropping to 3-1 after being outmuscled by Osaka-born No. 4 Ikioi (4-0).

« I just got stuck in hard and wanted to wrestle my brand of sumo, regardless of the result, » said Ikioi. « I don’t remember much of the bout but I did what I had to do and got the job done. »

Sekiwake Yoshikaze (1-3) finally chalked up his first win in bundling out komusubi Tochiozan (0-4).

Written by Kyodo