Sumo: Onosato beats Takayasu, Ichiyamamoto takes sole lead in Nagoya
A day after his upset loss to up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho, Onosato (7-2) went back to basics with a dominant performance against former ozeki Takayasu (6-3) on Day 9 at IG Arena.
Onosato, the lone grand champion in Nagoya after Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal, blasted Takayasu backward at the jump and forced him over the straw bales. The win keeps the debutant yokozuna in strong contention for his third consecutive Emperor's Cup and fifth overall.
Having started the day on the top rung of the leaderboard alongside sekiwake Kirishima, veteran iron man Tamawashi and top-division debutant Kusano, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto took sole possession of first place by advancing to 8-1 before the other front-runners lost one after another.
The 31-year-old Hokkaido native clinched his all-important eighth win by pulling down No. 6 maegashira Gonoyama (5-4).
Ichiyamamoto said it was "an honor" to be the first sumo wrestler to achieve a winning record at the new IG Arena, but there was still "a long way to go" at the 15-day tournament.
"I'm sure I'll get tired, but I'll try to remain focused and continue racking up wins," Ichiyamamoto said.
Kirishima (7-2) became the latest big name to fall to the 21-year-old Hakuoho (5-4), who came in low and hard with his opening charge and did not allow the former ozeki to gain any forward momentum on the way to victory by push out.
Of the other overnight leaders, No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (3-6), and No. 14 maegashira Kusano was pushed out by No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (6-3).
Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-4 as he was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (2-7), who staved off a losing record with the upset.
Exciting young Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki (7-2) stayed one win back from the lead by beating fellow No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu (2-7) with a superbly executed twisting underarm throw.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 5-4 by forcing out No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-4).
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