Onosato Escapes Fujiryoga on Day 2 for His First Win: 'The Content Was What It Was'
Yokozuna Onosato, 26 (Nishonoseki), avoided back-to-back losses on Kyushu Day 2 by yorikiri over West Maegashira 1 Fujiryoga (Fujishima), the day after his Day 1 loss to Yoshinofuji. He got a brief right inside at the tachi-ai, but Nikkan Sports says he pulled against the advancing Fujiryoga, which drew the opponent into his chest and put him in big trouble. Moving around the edge, he went about halfway round the straw bales, finally got his right in and finished him off. Nikkan Sports says the crowd stayed buzzing for a while afterward.
'The content was what it was,' Onosato said (Nikkan Sports, Sports Hochi, Mainichi, Jiji). 'It's a long 15 days, so I'll switch gears and focus one bout at a time.' Hochi quotes him saying 'I got my first win, so I'll concentrate again tomorrow.'
Kasugano (ex-Tochinowaka), NHK commentator: 'The yokozuna's bad side came out. Pulling while pushing down on the opponent's head is something you must not do. There is a lot to reflect on,' while calling Fujiryoga's sumo 'good.' Judge Kokonoe (ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai, ringside) said, 'He had no margin, but the right inside was good. The yokozuna will get better,' per Mainichi.
JSA chairman Hakkaku (ex-yokozuna Hokutoumi) credited the recovery to training: 'He was able to hold on because he'd done the training. I think he relaxed once the right went in,' and praised Fujiryoga: 'It was as planned. His distance was good.' Of Day 1, Hakkaku said Onosato's 'feet were moving; it was only the final push.' A win on Day 2, he added, 'will settle him down; it's different from two straight losses.'
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Mainichi) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Jiji Press) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports / Kasugano) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports / Hakkaku)