Judge Stops Kyokukaiyu–Arashifuji Bout Mid-Action After Arashifuji's Hand Touches Down
In the Maegashira 16 bout between Kyokukaiyu (Oshima) and Arashifuji (Isegahama) on Day 3, Arashifuji slipped on his right foot after Kyokukaiyu's low charge and right slap, recovered, and kept fighting as gyoji Kimura Shozaburo urged them on. Then the chief judge at the front called out 'Shobu atta!' several times and stopped the bout, leaving gyoji and wrestlers standing in confusion and the hall buzzing, ABEMA TIMES reports.
The replay showed Arashifuji's right hand had brushed the clay as he slipped. ABEMA announcer Yoji Funayama noted that the bout continues until the gyoji stops it, and commentator Akiseyama (ex-maegashira) agreed that a wrestler can't relax until it is called. The hall announcement said Arashifuji had a tsukite, giving Kyokukaiyu the win. Kyokukaiyu is 2-1; Arashifuji suffered his first loss and is 2-1. Fans wrote 'It's touching, all right' and 'Nice work, oyakata.'
THE ANSWER and ENCOUNT also covered the stoppage, which came about six seconds after the tachi-ai. Funayama's call on the replay: 'Ah, the right hand. It's completely down.' More fan comments: 'Oh, it touched,' 'Was it a blind spot?' and 'He's right.'
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (ABEMA TIMES) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (THE ANSWER) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (ENCOUNT)