Sumo: Hakuoho shakes up Nagoya meet with shock win over Onosato
The 21-year-old Hakuoho's unexpected victory left sekiwake Kirishima tied for the lead with three rank-and-file wrestlers at 7-1 on Day 8 of the 15-day tournament at IG Arena.
Onosato (6-2) had made short work of Hakuoho (4-4) in their only previous top-division meeting in May, but things did not go to plan for the new yokozuna as he faced a strong opening charge from the burly youngster.
With the 25-year-old grand champion trying to pull him down, Hakuoho stayed attached to his opponent's body and drove forward for a push-out victory.
"I'm glad that I was able to excite the fans with my performance," Hakuoho said. "My stablemaster (former yokozuna Terunofuji) told me just to go for broke and make use of everything I've been practicing in my training sessions."
Onosato, gunning for his third straight Emperor's Cup, is competing as the sole yokozuna following Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal from the 15-day tournament.
Former ozeki Kirishima had to work hard for his win against No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (2-6), backpedaling under a flurry of blows before pushing his younger Mongolian compatriot over the straw bales.
He shares the lead with the 40-year-old No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto and top-division debutant Kusano, competing as a No. 14 maegashira.
Tamawashi won a battle of former sekiwake against No. 2 maegashira Abi (4-4), Ichiyamamoto threw No. 10 maegashira Atamifuji (5-3), and Kusano forced out No. 15 maegashira Hidenoumi (0-6-2). The other overnight leader, former ozeki and current No. 16 maegashira Mitakeumi (6-2) lost to No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (5-3).
Giant-killing Ukrainian No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki (6-2) continued to impress as he stayed one win off the pace with a force-out victory over former sekiwake Oho (2-6), now competing as a No. 2 maegashira.
Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-3 after being pushed out by Mongolian komusubi Oshoma (2-6), battling to stave off a losing record in his first meet as a member of the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 4-4 with a thrilling backward pivot throw reversal against No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (1-7).
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