Sumo: Kusano surprised with strong top-division debut performance

Rank-and-file wrestler Kusano exceeded most fans' expectations by staying in the title race until the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament last month.Kusano came up short in his bid to repeat the feat achieved by senior stablemate Takerufuji, who in March 2024 became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a championship in his top-division debut.But his 11-4 record earned Kusano both the Fighting Spirit and Technique prizes."My challenge has just begun, and it was pretty good for the first one," said the 24-year-old from Kumamoto Prefecture.Kusano scored an impressive win against s…READ FULL ARTICLE