TOKYO - Yokozuna Onosato defeated title rival ozeki Aonishiki in an emphatic fashion to capture his first title in a year at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
Having thrown away his two-win lead with successive losses through Saturday, Onosato (12-3) was back to his best against Ukrainian star Aonishiki (11-4) in the final bout of the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Aonishiki got his left hand on the grand champion's belt straight away and looked to take control, but failed to hold on to it and backed off as Onosato produced a powerful push to the ozeki's throat.
Onosato, troubled by left shoulder pain since dislocating it last November, followed up with another inescapable push to Aonishiki's throat to finish the fascinating matchup in seconds with a lopsided thrust out.
"I just wanted to get to enjoy this view again. I'm happy to have managed to win the title," Onosato, who missed most of the March and May meets before going 9-6 in July, told the packed crowd after receiving the Emperor's Cup for the sixth time.
"There was a period when I wondered if I could win the title again. But my stablemaster (former yokozuna Kisenosato) gave me support. He was watching from ringside today (as a judge), and I'm happy to be able to show him the moment of winning the title."
Aonishiki, whose left foot remains heavily strapped after a series of injuries this year, bounced back from three straight defeats with eight consecutive wins to set up a thrilling finale but fell short of his fourth top-tier makuuchi-division title.
Aonishiki won July's Nagoya meet in his first tournament after being demoted to sekiwake and immediately returned to ozeki after reaching the required 10 wins.
Kirishima (8-7), whose bid for yokozuna promotion this month fell well short of a required championship-caliber performance, secured a winning record by patiently beating his fellow ozeki Kotozakura (9-6) with a left overarm throw.
Fujinokawa (11-4) ended his superb sekiwake debuting tournament in style by flooring Atamifuji (8-7), another wrestler at the third-highest rank, at the edge with a right beltless arm throw.
Atamifuji, who was aiming for ozeki promotion ahead of the meet, seemed to be on course for a win by arm barring force out against Fujinokawa, but instead finished with five straight defeats.
Fujinokawa won the Fight Spirit Prize for the second time after beating all three ozeki and staying in the title race until late in the tournament.
No. 3 maegashira Churanoumi (10-5) took a huge step toward becoming the first wrestler from Okinawa Prefecture to reach the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna by shoving out komusubi Daieisho (5-10). Churanoumi also won the Fight Spirit Prize after beating two ozeki.
