Day 7: Ex-Komusubi Nishikigi, 36, Turns the Tables on Prospect Tenshozan: 'I'll Be Sore Tomorrow'
East Makushita 2 Nishikigi, 36 (Isenoumi), back in makushita for the first time in 11 years, beat West Makushita 1 Tenshozan, 22 (Tamanoi), to even his record at 2-2. Locked up in a right-hand grip and driven to the edge, he braced his left leg on the straw, swung Tenshozan around and forced him out. 'I'll be sore tomorrow,' he said; having trained against him once before the basho, 'I knew that if we locked up chest to chest, I'd be done. I'm glad I managed to swing him' (Nikkan Sports, Sports Hochi). Inspired by stablemate Ikarigata's kachi-koshi just before his bout: 'I'll work hard so I don't lose to Ikarigata.' Tenshozan, who had won six or more in five straight basho since January, is 1-3 (Nikkan Sports).
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi)