Makushita 1 Tenshozan Loses His First Bout on the Juryo Dohyo: 'I Worried More About the Ritual'
West Makushita 1 Tenshozan, 22 (Tamanoi), lost his first bout on the juryo dohyo on Day 4, Nikkan Sports and Sports Hochi report. West Juryo 13 Tokifudo, 23 (Tokitsukaze), got inside at the tachi-ai and pushed him out from behind (okuridashi). 'It was no good at all,' said Tenshozan, who admitted to nerves: 'I worried more about the ritual than the bout.'
The 197-cm Mongolian debuted in January this year, losing his first bout to fellow Mongolian Asahifuji, won the sandanme title with a 7-0 record in July and went 6-1 in makushita in September to reach his career-high rank. He beat Inami on Day 1 but has lost two straight, his first back-to-back losses as a pro, and is 1-2.
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi)