Latest news with #Aonishiki
Kyodo News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Ukrainian starlet Aonishiki continues breakout run in Nagoya
NAGOYA - Rising Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki racked up another impressive victory to keep himself in title contention at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday. Fighting as a No. 1 maegashira, the 21-year-old defeated Mongolian komusubi Oshoma for his fifth win in seven matches against opponents ranging from yokozuna through the three "sanyaku" ranks below grand champion. Aonishiki is one win behind grand champion Onosato, who is fighting in his yokozuna debut tournament, and five other co-leaders at Nagoya's new IG Arena. "I just went with how I felt, instead of watching my opponent's moves," Aonishiki said of his push-out victory over Oshoma. In only his third tournament in the elite makuuchi division, Aonishiki upset ozeki Kotozakura on the opening day and stunned grand champion Hoshoryu two days later after losing to Onosato. "We still haven't reached the eighth day (the halfway point of the 15-day tournament), so it feels like the real battle starts now," Aonishiki said. With his country in the grip of war against Russia, Aonishiki arrived in Japan in April 2022 and now speaks fluent Japanese. During his fifth-day victory over sekiwake Kirishima, Aonishiki received a strong thrust that left him with bruising around his right eye. Asked to comment on the wound, the wrestler, who belongs to the Ajigawa stable, quipped, "I don't care. I think I've become a more handsome man."
Kyodo News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Young Ukrainian Aonishiki upsets yokozuna Hoshoryu on Day 3
NAGOYA - Exciting young Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki caused another sensation Tuesday at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, upsetting yokozuna Hoshoryu in the final bout of Day 3 at IG Arena. New yokozuna Onosato, meanwhile, continued his impressive start to the 15-day competition, improving to 3-0 with a victory over No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu. Having beaten ozeki Kotozakura on the opening day of the tournament, the 21-year-old Aonishiki (2-1) recorded the biggest win of his brief career, earning his first "kinboshi" gold star prize for defeating a yokozuna as a rank-and-file wrestler. The No. 1 maegashira stayed in constant motion after the opening clash, preventing Hoshoryu (1-2) from using a belt grip and eventually tackling the yokozuna to the clay with a thigh grabbing push down. "I'm just glad I won," said Aonishiki, who was beaten by Onosato on Day 2. "I'll just do my best each day from now on and concentrate on whoever my opponent may be." Hoshoryu's second straight defeat, a day after losing to Wakamotoharu, marked another poor start to a meet as yokozuna. He withdrew hurt from his debut tournament at the top rank in March and finished with a 5-5-5 record. Onosato, gunning for his third straight Emperor's Cup, delivered a strong opening charge and was credited with a frontal push down victory after the backpedaling Wakamotoharu (1-2) slipped to the sandy surface. Kotozakura (1-2) showed little sign of overcoming his recent run of lackluster results, succumbing to a pulling overarm throw against veteran komusubi Takayasu (2-1). "I want to do the kind of sumo fans enjoy watching," former ozeki Takayasu said. Aiming to move back up to ozeki, Mongolian sekiwake Kirishima (3-0) stayed unbeaten by forcing out No. 2 maegashira Oho (0-3). Sekiwake Wakatakakage dropped to 2-1 with a slap-down loss to No. 2 maegashira Abi (2-1).
The Mainichi
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Young Ukrainian Aonishiki upsets yokozuna Hoshoryu on Day 3
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Exciting young Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki caused another sensation Tuesday at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, upsetting yokozuna Hoshoryu in the final bout of Day 3 at IG Arena. New yokozuna Onosato, meanwhile, continued his impressive start to the 15-day competition, improving to 3-0 with a victory over No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu. Having beaten ozeki Kotozakura on the opening day of the tournament, the 21-year-old Aonishiki (2-1) recorded the biggest win of his brief career, earning his first "kinboshi" gold star prize for defeating a yokozuna as a rank-and-file wrestler. The No. 1 maegashira stayed in constant motion after the opening clash, preventing Hoshoryu (1-2) from using a belt grip and eventually tackling the yokozuna to the clay with a thigh grabbing push down. "I'm just glad I won," said Aonishiki, who was beaten by Onosato on Day 2. "I'll just do my best each day from now on and concentrate on whoever my opponent may be." Hoshoryu's second straight defeat, a day after losing to Wakamotoharu, marked another poor start to a meet as yokozuna. He withdrew hurt from his debut tournament at the top rank in March and finished with a 5-5-5 record. Onosato, gunning for his third straight Emperor's Cup, delivered a strong opening charge and was credited with a frontal push down victory after the backpedaling Wakamotoharu (1-2) slipped to the sandy surface. Kotozakura (1-2) showed little sign of overcoming his recent run of lackluster results, succumbing to a pulling overarm throw against veteran komusubi Takayasu (2-1). "I want to do the kind of sumo fans enjoy watching," former ozeki Takayasu said. Aiming to move back up to ozeki, Mongolian sekiwake Kirishima (3-0) stayed unbeaten by forcing out No. 2 maegashira Oho (0-3). Sekiwake Wakatakakage dropped to 2-1 with a slap-down loss to No. 2 maegashira Abi (2-1).
Kyodo News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato improves to 10-0, moves 2 wins ahead in title race
KYODO NEWS - 22 hours ago - 18:58 | Sports, All Ozeki Onosato advanced to a perfect 10-0 and moved two wins clear in the title race Tuesday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with an easy victory over No. 4 maegashira Ichiyamamoto. The 24-year-old powerhouse received a big boost in his quest for back-to-back championships and promotion to yokozuna after his nearest rivals coming into Day 10, rank-and-file youngsters Hakuoho and Aonishiki, both dropped to 8-2. Current sole yokozuna Hoshoryu, meanwhile, improved to 8-2, but ozeki Kotozakura struggled to find consistency as he dropped to 6-4 at Ryogoku Kokugikan arena. Having won their only previous meeting in the top division, Onosato was never in doubt against Ichiyamamoto (4-6), driving him to the edge and pushing him down after the maegashira half-heartedly tried an evasive maneuver. Hoshoryu used a rear push out to dispatch agile No. 5 maegashira Ura (2-8), sending him over the edge after an unsuccessful slap-down attempt at the opening charge. The yokozuna moved onto the second rung of the leaderboard alongside Hakuoho, Aonishiki and komusubi Wakatakakage. Former sekiwake Wakatakakage (8-2) clinched his winning record by defeating exciting young Ukrainian prospect Aonishiki in one of the day's highlight bouts. Exhibiting similar styles, but with a gulf in experience between them, the pair grappled furiously before Wakatakakage toppled 21-year-old No. 9 maegashira Aonishiki with an under-shoulder swing down. "Whoever I face, I'm just concentrating on doing my own sumo," Wakatakakage said. Sekiwake Daieisho (7-3) overwhelmed No. 7 maegashira Hakuoho by sticking to his strengths and unleashing a decisive thrusting attack straight from the jump. Kotozakura was once again unable to overcome one of his bogey opponents, current sekiwake and former ozeki Kirishima (7-3), who improved to 13-4 in their head-to-head rivalry with a force out. Related coverage: Sumo: Onosato stays perfect as Hakuoho, Aonishiki keep up pressure
Kyodo News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato improves to 10-0, moves 2 wins ahead in title race
KYODO NEWS - 37 minutes ago - 18:58 | Sports, All Ozeki Onosato advanced to a perfect 10-0 and moved two wins clear in the title race Tuesday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with an easy victory over No. 4 maegashira Ichiyamamoto. The 24-year-old powerhouse received a big boost in his quest for back-to-back championships and promotion to yokozuna after his nearest rivals coming into Day 10, rank-and-file youngsters Hakuoho and Aonishiki, both dropped to 8-2. Current sole yokozuna Hoshoryu, meanwhile, improved to 8-2, but ozeki Kotozakura struggled to find consistency as he dropped to 6-4 at Ryogoku Kokugikan arena. Having won their only previous meeting in the top division, Onosato was never in doubt against Ichiyamamoto (4-6), driving him to the edge and pushing him down after the maegashira half-heartedly tried an evasive maneuver. Hoshoryu used a rear push out to dispatch agile No. 5 maegashira Ura (2-8), sending him over the edge after an unsuccessful slap-down attempt at the opening charge. The yokozuna moved onto the second rung of the leaderboard alongside Hakuoho, Aonishiki and komusubi Wakatakakage. Former sekiwake Wakatakakage (8-2) clinched his winning record by defeating exciting young Ukrainian prospect Aonishiki in one of the day's highlight bouts. Exhibiting similar styles, but with a gulf in experience between them, the pair grappled furiously before Wakatakakage toppled 21-year-old No. 9 maegashira Aonishiki with an under-shoulder swing down. "Whoever I face, I'm just concentrating on doing my own sumo," Wakatakakage said. Sekiwake Daieisho (7-3) overwhelmed No. 7 maegashira Hakuoho by sticking to his strengths and unleashing a decisive thrusting attack straight from the jump. Kotozakura was once again unable to overcome one of his bogey opponents, current sekiwake and former ozeki Kirishima (7-3), who improved to 13-4 in their head-to-head rivalry with a force out. Related coverage: Sumo: Onosato stays perfect as Hakuoho, Aonishiki keep up pressure
