Newly promoted ozeki Hakuho defeated lower-ranked fellow Mongolian Kyokutenho yesterday and was tied for the lead at 3-0 on the third day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
Hakuho, who was promoted to the sport's second highest rank in March, grabbed winless komusubi Kyokutenho with a left-hand grip and forced him out of the ring. With the win, Hakuho remained tied for the lead with ozeki Chiyotaikai, sekiwake Miyabiyama and rank-and-filer Hakurozan.
Hakuho, 21, is the fourth-youngest wrestler in modern sumo history to be promoted to ozeki after Takanohana, Taiho and Kitanoumi, who all went on to become yokozuna legends.
PHOTO: AP
Hakuho made his sumo debut in 2001 and is the second Mongolian to reach the title after grand champion Asashoryu.
Earlier yesterday, yokozuna Asashoryu withdrew from the 15-day tourney after injuring his right elbow in Monday's loss to second-ranked maegashira Wakanosato.
In Monday's bout, Asashoryu hit his elbow when he tumbled into the first row of seats from the raised ring after Wakanosato sidestepped at the ring's edge.
His injury will need about two months of treatment, the Japan Sumo Association said. Asashoryu's opponent on the third day, No. 3 maegashira Aminishiki, won the bout by default.
In other major bouts, ozeki Chiyotaikai improved to 3-0 with a win over third-ranked maegashira Kotoshogiku, who fell to 1-2.
Ozeki Kaio posted his first win when he hauled down Mongolian komusubi Ama near the center of the ring for a 1-2 record. Ama remained 0-3.
Ozeki Tochiazuma posted his second straight loss when Mongolian Asasekiryu prevailed after both exchanged a fierce series of shoves and thrusts. Second-ranked maegashira Asasekiryu improved to 2-1, while Tochiazuma fell to 1-2.
In another upset, ozeki Kotooshu was handed his second straight loss by Wakankosato, who flung down the Bulgarian grappler.
Wakanosato, who defeated Asashoryu on Monday, improved to 2-1, while Kotooshu dropped to 1-2.
Earlier, Estonian Baruto grabbed Hokutoriki's belt with his left hand before throwing the 13th-ranked maegashira down to the dirt. Baruto, making his debut in the elite makuuchi division, improved to 2-1, while Wakanosato remained winless.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
Defender Steph Catley says her UEFA Women’s Champions League title win with Arsenal last week will act as motivation to secure continental glory with Australia when the country hosts the Women’s Asian Cup next year. Catley and compatriots Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were part of the Arsenal squad that defeated Barcelona in Lisbon on Sunday last week, before flying to Melbourne to feature in the Matildas’ 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday. The game was the first in a two-match series against the South Americans as the Australians continue preparations for the continental championship in March next year, when they would