Sekiwake Onosato stands in the ring after winning his second Emperor’s Cup on Saturday at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
18:46 JST, September 21, 2024
Sekiwake Onosato won his second Emperor’s Cup — and almost certain promotion to ozeki — with a day to spare by defeating ozeki Hoshoryu on Saturday at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Onosato used two powerful pushes to send Hoshoryu from the ring and improved his score to an unassailable 13-1, defeating an opponent who had defeated him in three of their four previous matches – his only victory coming by default.
“I was focused and went for it without hesitation,” Onosato said in a post-match interview. “I’m very happy, but I still have tomorrow’s match. I want to fight with all my strength.”
The 24-year-old native of Ishikawa Prefecture also won the makuuchi division title at the summer tournament in May, just a year after his sumo debut.
He has already surpassed the criteria for promotion to ozeki (33 wins in three tournaments). He is expected to be promoted to the second highest rank at the next tournament.
