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単語数: 382語

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作成日: 2022/07/27 08:25

更新日: 2025/12/09 14:43

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Sumo: Ichinojo targets ozeki promotion after winning Emperor's Cup
KYODO NEWS
Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament winner Ichinojo has set his sights on promotion to ozeki, the newly minted champion said Monday.

The biggest man in sumo's top division at 1.92 meters and 211 kilograms, the Mongolian-born rank-and-filer captured his first Emperor's Cup by finishing the 15-day meet on Sunday with a 12-3 record.

Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament winner Ichinojo holds a press conference in Iwakura, Aichi Prefecture, on July 25, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Japan Sumo Association)(Kyodo)
The No. 2 maegashira came into the final day at Dolphins Arena tied for the lead with yokozuna Terunofuji and clinched the title by holding serve against No. 3 Ura before the lone grand champion lost to ozeki Takakeisho.

In an online press conference, Ichinojo said he began entertaining the thought of a championship after improving to a perfect 6-0 record with a victory over ozeki Mitakeumi.

"After winning six in a row from the opening day, I thought there might be a chance I could do it," said Ichinojo, whose highest career ranking is sekiwake.

The 29-year-old giant wants to return to the three elite "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna and eventually reach ozeki, the sport's second-highest rank.

"I want to use the championship as motivation to get back to sanyaku and aim for ozeki," he said.

Ichinojo made his professional debut in 2014 and announced his arrival in the top division with a stunning 13-2 performance in that year's Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

But his progress was hampered by back problems that kept him out of competition and saw him demoted back to the second-tier juryo division in January 2020.

The Minato stable grappler said the eight-year wait for a title felt "really long" but his self-belief had remained throughout.

"Nowadays even rank-and-filers can win championships," he said. "I thought that I would be able to win at some point."

Ichinojo was forced to sit out the May grand tournament because of a positive COVID-19 test, and the virus continued to wreak havoc at the just-finished meet in Nagoya.

The elite makuuchi division saw 16 wrestlers pull out from a field of 42. Japan Sumo Association rules require every member of a stable with one reported coronavirus case to withdraw from a competition.

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