NAGOYA - Yokozuna Hoshoryu dropped to 4-2 on Day 6 of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after suffering his second defeat Friday, while both ozeki Kirishima and Aonishiki stayed in the title hunt at 5-1 after six days of competition.
Here is a digest of the first six days of the 15-day meet, including Hoshoryu's campaign so far
Day 1: Returning yokozuna Onosato loses on Nagoya meet opening day
Sunday, July 12 - Onosato fell to a worrying opening day defeat while his fellow returning grand champion, Hoshoryu, triumphed as the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament began on Sunday.
Hoshoryu, who suffered a hamstring injury on the opening day of the Summer meet in May and missed the rest of that tournament, showed little signs of anxiety as he withstood komusubi Oho's opening charge before driving forward and winning by a thigh-grabbing push-down.
Day 2: Yokozuna Onosato slumps to 0-2 with upset loss to Fujinokawa
Monday, July 13 - Grand champion Onosato suffered his second straight defeat to start the tournament on Monday, losing to tricky No. 1 maegashira Fujinokawa by thrust down.
Fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu, meanwhile, improved to 2-0 at the 15-day tournament in impressive fashion, hurling No. 1 maegashira Takanosho (1-1) to the clay with a beltless arm throw after the former sekiwake followed a strong opening collision with a thrusting attack.
Day 3: Onosato pushes out Takanosho for 1st win following horror 0-2 start
Tuesday, July 14 - Onosato notched his first win of the tournament following a nightmare 0-2 start, pushing out No. 1 maegashira Takanosho on Tuesday.
Hoshoryu (2-1), meanwhile, became No. 1 maegashira Fujinokawa's latest yokozuna victim on Day 3, a day after the rising star upset Onosato.
Day 4: Yokozuna Onosato sinks to 1-3 with loss to Gonoyama
Wednesday, July 15 - Onosato crashed to 1-3 at the tournament on Wednesday as he was pushed out by previously winless No. 2 maegashira Gonoyama.
Hoshoryu bounced back from his first loss by thrusting down No. 2 maegashira Churanoumi and improving to 3-1 on Day 4 of the 15-day competition.
Day5 : Ozeki Kirishima takes 1st loss, struggling yokozuna Onosato wins 2nd
Thursday, July 16 - Ozeki Kirishima's unbeaten start at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament came to an end on Thursday, while struggling yokozuna Onosato secured his second win to improve to 2-3.
Among the sport's top-ranked wrestlers, Kirishima, yokozuna Hoshoryu and sekiwake Aonishiki sit one win behind the leaders at 4-1 following Day 5 of the 15-day tournament.
Hoshoryu held off No. 2 maegashira Gonoyama (1-4) with an arm-bar throw in the final bout of the day.
Day 6: Yokozuna Hoshoryu suffers 2nd loss as Shishi takes sole Nagoya lead
Friday, July 17 - Yokozuna Hoshoryu stumbled to his second defeat after six days at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday as Ukrainian rank-and-filer Shishi became the only wrestler boasting a perfect record.
Hoshoryu (4-2) was seemingly in a comfortable position against Hakunofuji (5-1) after quickly securing a left overarm belt hold, but the No. 3 maegashira showed good tenacity to stay inside the ring at Nagoya's IG Arena. The gyoji referee initially named Hoshoryu the winner, but Hakunofuji was handed the victory instead following the ringside judges' review.
Another yokozuna Onosato (3-3) secured his first back-to-back victories of the 15-day meet by overwhelming No. 3 maegashira Hiradoumi in a force out, yokozuna promotion-hopeful Kirishima (5-1) got back to winning ways and sekiwake Aonishiki (5-1) needed little time in dispatching Oho.
