jasdooit

NAGOYA – Defending champions Onosato and Hoshoryu are scheduled to come back from their injuries, while Ukrainian sensation Aonishiki will start his effort to regain his ozeki rank when the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament commences on Sunday at IG Arena.

A 22-year-old wrestler named Aonishiki is set for a crucial challenge following his absence from the entire Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in May due to an ankle injury, which led to his demotion from ozeki to the third-highest position of sekiwake.

The European powerhouse has the opportunity to gain promotion directly back to the second-top division by achieving a double-digit victory count in Nagoya and will compete against No. 3 maegashira Hiradoumi on the first day.

Following his participation in the Japan Sumo Association’s exhibition tour in Paris last month, Aonishiki mentioned that it served as beneficial preparation for the upcoming competition.

Without those performances, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to compete,” he stated. “Entering the ring gave me self-assurance.

The sumo wrestler Onosato, a yokozuna, is set to return following his absence from the last two competitions because of a left shoulder injury.

A five-time Emperor’s Cup champion demonstrated impressive performance during a combined training session on Monday, securing victory in all 11 simulated matches against ozeki Kotozakura.

A yokozuna from Mongolia, Hoshoryu, is returning after sustaining a hamstring injury on the first day of the May tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo.

The nephew of the Mongolian great Asashoryu is competing for his third championship in the top division and his first since being elevated to yokozuna in March of last year.

Kotozakura, the victor of the two-day Paris exhibition tournament, will compete in Nagoya as a “kadoban” ozeki facing potential demotion, following his withdrawal due to a back injury in May and a losing record. He must secure eight or more wins to prevent being dropped to sekiwake.

Sekiwake Wakatakakage, the victor of the May tournament, will be absent following emergency surgery last week to address compartment syndrome caused by a thigh injury he sustained during practice.