NAGOYA - Ukrainian star Aonishiki once again set his sights Monday on reaching the highest rank of yokozuna after lifting his third Emperor's Cup at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, battling through left foot injuries.
The 22-year-old was demoted from ozeki to sekiwake ahead of this month's tournament at IG Arena, but he only needed 11 days to pick up the 10 wins he required for an immediate return to the second-highest rank before going all the way to seize the title on Sunday.
"I've managed to show I'm not just a wrestler on a roll. I will be aiming for the top of the rankings," said Aonishiki, who made a phenomenal start to his career, securing his maiden elite makuuchi-division title last November that clinched his record-fastest promotion to ozeki after just 14 meets.
Aonishiki also won the ensuing tournament in January and was bidding for promotion to yokozuna in March, when he suffered the first setback of his career, hurting his left little toe -- later confirmed to be a fracture -- and falling to his first-ever losing record.
The dynamo needed a winning record in May to stay on as ozeki but hurt his left ankle in pre-tournament practice, missing the whole meet and suffering demotion.
After a flying start this month in Nagoya, he suffered an injury, this time to his left big toe, on the eighth day. His stablemaster Ajigawa said Aonishiki was "in no condition to wrestle," after seeing he was unable to walk to the toilet at midnight.
But the young talent kept appearing to fight on the raised ring and, despite losing his regulation bout on the final day, overcame sekiwake Atamifuji and ozeki Kirishima in a three-way playoff in a dramatic finale.
"I was battling on the ring while carrying fear and anxiety. (But) I did not think about pulling out," said Aonishiki, who became the first wrestler to win the makuuchi title in the meet at which he was demoted from ozeki.
"I dropped in the rankings for the first time and there was frustration. I'm really happy to win the title to mark my return (to ozeki)."
