TOKYO –
The Japan Sumo Association introduced the rankings for the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on August 31, with final match’s champion Aonishiki returning to ozeki after two tournaments and taking the second place on the east facet of the rankings.
The 15-day match will start on September 13 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Aonishiki’s return marks the primary restoration to ozeki since Kirishima at this 12 months’s Summer Grand Sumo Tournament and the 14th such case for the reason that begin of the Showa period.
At a news convention following the rankings announcement, Aonishiki performed down the importance of regaining the rank, saying his outlook had not modified. “I don’t have any particularly special feelings about it,” he stated. “My desire to aim higher hasn’t changed.”
Reflecting on his dramatic championship on the earlier match in Nagoya, Aonishiki stated the victory was particularly satisfying as a result of he had competed whereas not in good bodily situation. “My body wasn’t in good shape, and it was that kind of tournament, but I was able to win just as I had talked about with my stablemaster, so I was really happy,” he stated.
He stated the championship felt totally different from his earlier titles as a result of he had by no means earlier than received a match underneath such troublesome bodily circumstances. He recalled taking the match sooner or later at a time and stated he had little clear reminiscence of components of the competitors as a result of his focus was merely on getting by way of every day.
Aonishiki subsequently joined the regional summer season tour relatively than devoting all the interval to remedy, saying he needed to indicate himself to followers across the nation. He stated the tour allowed him to proceed receiving remedy whereas interacting with spectators and drawing power from their encouragement.
A go to to Aomori, together with time at his stablemaster’s household dwelling, was essentially the most memorable cease on the tour, Aonishiki stated. He described consuming on the household dwelling as a very pleasurable expertise.
His ankle and toe accidents are regularly enhancing, he stated, though he didn’t participate in any precise sumo bouts in the course of the regional tour. Aonishiki stated he as an alternative focused on doing every little thing his situation allowed and didn’t really feel particularly anxious in regards to the lack of match apply.
He stated he would focus on his coaching schedule together with his stablemaster earlier than deciding when to renew full sumo apply, with the objective of reaching the September 13 opening day in the perfect situation attainable.
Looking forward to the Autumn match, Aonishiki stated he desires to provide his personal type of sumo and put himself in place to problem for a good greater rank.
The previous 12 months has introduced a collection of sharp modifications in his profession. Aonishiki famous that he had solely not too long ago reached the highest makuuchi division finally 12 months’s Autumn match earlier than experiencing promotion, demotion, championships and dropping data over the next 12 months. “Too much has happened,” he stated, describing it as a interval that hardly felt like just one 12 months.
Aonishiki stated his earlier three tournaments as an ozeki had finally been invaluable expertise and that he doesn’t intend to essentially change his method following his accidents. “My sumo is what brought me this far,” he stated, including that he trusts each himself and his type and sees no purpose to change it just because he was injured.
He additionally stays centered on reaching sumo’s highest rank, whereas acknowledging that promotion is not going to come simply. Aonishiki stated he intends to hear carefully to his stablemaster and proceed working in coaching relatively than changing into preoccupied with how shortly he may advance.
Elsewhere within the new rankings, 21-year-old Fujinokawa was promoted to sekiwake on the west facet, changing into the primary wrestler from Kyoto Prefecture in 198 years to make his debut within the sanyaku ranks, since Hiodoshi on the October 1828 match.
The 23-year-old Hakuoho additionally entered the sanyaku ranks for the primary time, taking the east komusubi place.
At yokozuna, Onosato returned to the distinguished east place for the primary time in 5 tournaments, whereas Hoshoryu, who withdrew in the course of the earlier match, moved to the west facet.
Among the opposite ozeki, Kirishima retained the east place as he prepares to pursue promotion to yokozuna, whereas Kotozakura remained on the west facet.
Source: Kyodo