Day 7: Fujinokawa's Younger Brother Ikarigata Goes 4-0 in Makushita, Closing In on Juryo
West Makushita 2 Ikarigata, 19 (Isenoumi), younger brother of sekiwake Fujinokawa, beat former juryo Mita, 24 (Futagoyama), East Makushita 9, by sukuinage in a battle of the unbeaten to clinch kachi-koshi at a career-high rank (Sponichi, Nikkan Sports). 'I focused from morning practice on standing up faster than him and attacking. It went the way I wanted. I out-moved a former sekitori,' he said. Sports Hochi calls his promotion to juryo for the January basho likely; it would make the brothers the 25th pair of brother sekitori, following Asakoryu and Asasuiryu (Sponichi). Their father is stablemaster Kabutoyama (ex-maegashira Oikari).
He traveled on the autumn regional tour as Fujinokawa's tsukebito and trained against many rikishi: 'It was my first time and I was nervous, but it was good training' (Sports Hochi). 'Classmates and younger guys have already gone up, so I can't lose.' With three bouts left: 'I'll go in planning to win all three' (Nikkan Sports).
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sponichi) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi)