39-Year-Old Moriurara Gets His First Win on Day 3 With an 'All or Nothing' Tsukiotoshi
Sports Hochi reports that East Jonokuchi 15 Moriurara (Otake) beat West Jonokuchi 13 Itakozakura (Shikihide) by tsukiotoshi on Day 3 (Nov 10 Japan time) for his first win, evening his record at 1-1. He went in head first with a right ottsuke but slowed, wary of a pull, and was pushed back to the edge before his right-hand tsukiotoshi turned it around and drew a roar from the hall.
'While I was pushing I hesitated a little; getting pulled down in May flashed through my head,' he said. 'He came at me and I thought I'd lose, but I tried it, all or nothing, and it worked, so I'm glad.'
Now 39, his best this year was two wins in March, and he has won only one bout in each of the last three basho. His stablemaster Otake (ex-maegashira Tamaasuka) told him, 'Until now it's been one win, so go in meaning to win two, three, and in the end aim for kachi-koshi.' He has five bouts left.