Heckler Draws Fan Backlash During Day 1 Shishi-Asakoryu Bout; Hanada Asks Spectators to Stop
ABEMA TIMES reports that during the Day 1 bout between maegashira #10 Shishi (Ikazuchi) and maegashira #9 Asakoryu (Takasago), a spectator shouted jeers at the tachiai after the first start misfired. Online fans reacted with comments such as 'that's too much' and 'throw him out.'
The second start was good; Asakoryu got under the much bigger, 193 cm Shishi and won by yorikiri. Commentator Hanada Takanori (ex-Wakanohana) praised his forward pressure and said, 'I don't want people shouting before a bout,' adding that mistimed starts happen because wrestlers are human. ABEMA notes that the Japan Sumo Association's spectator guidelines ask visitors not to raise their voices or make noise that disrupts the bouts.