NAGOYA - Sekiwake Aonishiki defeated his second yokozuna in as many days Tuesday at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, beating Hoshoryu a day after upsetting Onosato to stay tied for the lead with No. 7 maegashira Kotoeiho at 9-1. Both grand champions finished Day 10 of the 15-day meet at 6-4.
Here is a digest of the 10 days of action, including Aonishiki's run from Day 1.
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.
Seeking an ozeki return, Aonishiki prevailed in a matter of seconds against Hiradoumi as the Ukrainian star sidestepped slightly to his left immediately after the opening clash before flooring the No. 3 maegashira with a left overarm throw.
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.
Former ozeki Aonishiki, bidding for automatic re-promotion back to the second-highest rank from sekiwake, continued his unbeaten start on Day 2 by forcing out No. 2 maegashira Churanoumi (0-2).
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.
Aonishiki (3-0) forced out No. 3 maegashira Hakunofuji (2-1) to move another win closer to the 10 he needs for automatic re-promotion to ozeki.
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.
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.
Another yokozuna Onosato (3-3) secured his first back-to-back victories of the 15-day, yokozuna promotion-hopeful Kirishima (5-1) got back to winning ways and sekiwake Aonishiki (5-1) needed little time in dispatching Oho.
Day 7: Promotion-chasing ozeki Kirishima wins, in 7-way tie for Nagoya lead
Saturday, July 18 - Yokozuna promotion-chasing ozeki Kirishima joined six other wrestlers at the top of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament leaderboard on Saturday after rank-and-filer Shishi suffered his first defeat after seven days of action.
Aonishiki (6-1) was untroubled by a huge opening jump to his left by diminutive No. 1 maegashira Fujinokawa (3-4), claiming a quick force-out win
Day 8: Joint leader Aonishiki stokes injury fears in win over Takanosho
Sunday, July 19 - Ukrainian star Aonishiki took another step toward ozeki repromotion Sunday, but his victory over No. 1 maegashira Takanosho may have come at a cost.
The 22-year-old sekiwake, whose demotion from the second-highest rank was sparked by foot and ankle injuries, grimaced in pain and limped from the ring after keeping a share of the lead at 7-1 with his closely fought win against former sekiwake Takanosho (3-5) by push out.
Day 9: Aonishiki keeps share of lead with breakthrough win over Onosato
Monday, July 20 - Ukrainian sekiwake Aonishiki maintained his share of the lead Monday with his first career victory over yokozuna Onosato in five attempts.
He was virtually gifted his eighth win of the 15-day tournament by the bigger, stronger Onosato, who bulldozed to the brink of victory before losing his balance and stumbling over the edge first.
Day 10: Joint-leader Aonishiki beats Hoshoryu, moves 1 win off ozeki return
Tuesday, July 21 - Sekiwake Aonishiki beat yokozuna Hoshoryu to move within one win of his ozeki return on Tuesday as the Ukrainian star stayed in a two-way tie for the lead with rank-and-file Kotoeiho after 10 days of action.
Aonishiki (9-1), who missed the entire Summer meet in May with left ankle pain, also hurt his big toe on Sunday. Still, he managed to overwhelm Hoshoryu (6-4) with his agility a day after picking up a win against another grand champion, Onosato.
