Oyakata Nishiiwa Picks Churanoumi to Win Kyushu
On ABEMA's sumo channel, Oyakata Nishiiwa made what he called a bold prediction for the November tournament, telling former NHK announcer Yoshida not to be surprised before naming Churanoumi, Okinawa's first sanyaku rikishi, as his pick for the yusho.
Nishiiwa praised Churanoumi's technique as "textbook" and said young rikishi should study his sumo, adding that since passing 30 he has also gained forward-pushing pressure and is still improving. "He didn't just happen to make sanyaku; he really earned it," he said. With the championship line sitting at 12 wins over the past year, he argued anyone has a chance, and noted that a regional tour stop in Uruma, Okinawa follows the basho. Yoshida pointed out that a win would make Churanoumi Okinawa's first makuuchi champion.