Sumo: Asanoyama pauses rookie Takerufuji’s historic title tilt

OSAKA (Kyodo) — Top-division debutant Takerufuji’s bid for a historic championship will go down to the final day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament following a loss to former ozeki Asanoyama on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Aomori Prefecture native was aiming to wrap up the title on the penultimate day and become the first wrestler to capture the Emperor’s Cup in his makuuchi division debut since Ryogoku in May 1914.

No. 17 maegashira Takerufuji (12-2) will instead take a one-win lead over fifth-ranked Onosato (11-3) into the ultimate day at Edion Arena Osaka.

It is unclear whether Takerufuji will be able to compete, however, after suffering an apparent right leg injury while being forced out of the ring by No. 1 maegashira Asanoyama (9-5).

He was helped backstage in a wheelchair before being taken to hospital in an ambulance. Even if he forfeits his final bout, he will still win the 15-day meet should Onosato lose on Sunday.

A championship for Takerufuji in Osaka would make him the fastest to win an Emperor’s Cup since sumo adopted the current calendar of six annual grand tournaments in 1958, having made his competitive debut in September 2022.

Onosato, who made a run at the title in his top-flight debut in January, stayed in contention by easily slapping down komusubi Abi (8-6).

Newly promoted Kotonowaka (10-4) knocked fellow ozeki Hoshoryu out of the title race in the final bout of the day. Hoshoryu (10-4) slipped behind Kotonowaka at the jump but could not make use of a belt hold before the new ozeki drove him to the edge and crushed him out.

Takakeisho (8-6) pulled out earlier on Day 14 due to a chest injury and forfeited his scheduled bout against fellow ozeki Kirishima (4-10).

Sekiwake Wakamotoharu (8-6) ensured his place among the three elite “sanyaku” ranks below yokozuna by earning his crucial eighth victory against second-ranked maegashira Atamifuji (8-6).