Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji to become sumo's 73rd yokozuna

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Primetyme199
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Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji to become sumo's 73rd yokozuna

Post by Primetyme199 »

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021 ... ozuna.html


Mongolian sumo wrestler Terunofuji will be promoted to yokozuna after the Japan Sumo Association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council recommended his ascension to the sport's highest rank on Monday.

Terunofuji will officially be named the sport's 73rd yokozuna on Wednesday at an extraordinary meeting of the JSA's board of directors, a mere formality after the recommendation following his 14-1 record at the Nagoya Grand Sumo tournament that ended Sunday.

The promotion caps an epic comeback for the 29-year-old, who wrestled at the sport's second-highest rank of ozeki before injuries to both knees saw him fall into the fifth-tier jonidan division in March 2019.

He has since battled back to the sport's elite makuuchi division and dominated, winning his second career Emperor's Cup on his July 2020 return and also claiming the title this March and May.

Terunofuji entered the Nagoya tourney needing to win his third straight championship or post a comparable record in order to earn promotion. On Sunday, he squared off with yokozuna Hakuho, who was also on 14-0, to decide the tournament winner but was thrown down in the finale at Dolphins Arena.

Terunofuji will be the first wrestler to win promotion to yokozuna since Kisenosato after the New Year meet in January 2017.
The fighters he's beaten aren't even household names in their own household.

"Never shall innocent blood be shed. Yet the blood of the wicked shall flow like a river. The three shall spread their blackened wings and be the vengeful striking hammer of god."
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Re: Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji to become sumo's 73rd yokozuna

Post by gilgamesh »

Beautiful. He deserves it. He's been consistently excellent.
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Tocsin
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Re: Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji to become sumo's 73rd yokozuna

Post by Tocsin »

Good to see! Would've been sweeter with a 15-0 yusho, but still an amazing story, probably the greatest comeback in sumo history.
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Re: Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji to become sumo's 73rd yokozuna

Post by Primetyme199 »

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Terunofuji holds red seabream to celebrate his promotion to yokozuna, in Tokyo on Wednesday.




Four-time makuuchi division champion Terunofuji was officially named sumo’s 73rd yokozuna on Wednesday, as the Mongolian became the first wrestler in four and a half years to be promoted to the sport’s highest rank following an epic career comeback.

Terunofuji, who narrowly missed out on a fifth title on Sunday at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, where he finished with a 14-1 record, is the first new grand champion since Japanese-born Kisenosato in 2017.

“I will hold on to my unshakeable spirit and aim to foster greater dignity and power as a yokozuna,” he said in his kojo stage speech, a custom for newly promoted wrestlers upon being officially informed of their new rank by Japan Sumo Association messengers.

In the news conference that followed the ceremony, Terunofuji, whose real name is Gantulga Ganerdene, said he gives himself a “perfect score” but that the true test starts from here.

“I want to go all out each day, have a more determined mindset in sumo and get even stronger. I have to change my ways. I have so much room for improvement. I want to understand what it means to be a yokozuna and be a role model,” he said.

Terunofuji defeats Daieisho on Day 4 of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 7. | KYODO
Terunofuji defeats Daieisho on Day 4 of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 7. | KYODO
The JSA’s board of directors, meeting in an extraordinary session, formally decided on the 29-year-old’s promotion after he received unanimous support from the JSA’s Yokozuna Deliberation Council on Monday.

The promotion caps an epic comeback for Terunofuji, who wrestled at the sport’s second-highest rank of ozeki before injuries to both knees saw him fall into the fifth-tier jonidan division in March 2019.

He then battled back to the sport’s elite makuuchi division and won his second Emperor’s Cup on his July 2020 return before also claiming the title this March and May.

Terunofuji entered the Nagoya tourney needing to win his third straight championship or post a championship-caliber record in order to earn promotion. On Sunday, he squared off with yokozuna Hakuho, who was also on 14-0, to decide the tournament winner but was thrown down in the finale at Dolphins Arena.

Still, the record was enough to earn him promotion, and his stablemaster Isegahama said his rise to the top rank is well-deserved and the result of a strong work ethic.

“He did well. No matter how much we support him, he’s the one who has to do the job. He worked hard day after day. I hope he keeps his head high and establishes a firm position as yokozuna,” Isegahama said.
The fighters he's beaten aren't even household names in their own household.

"Never shall innocent blood be shed. Yet the blood of the wicked shall flow like a river. The three shall spread their blackened wings and be the vengeful striking hammer of god."
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Re: Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji to become sumo's 73rd yokozuna

Post by Primetyme199 »

Terunofuji has been granted Japanese citizenship. He has confirmed that his new surname is Suginomori, taken from his shisho.
The fighters he's beaten aren't even household names in their own household.

"Never shall innocent blood be shed. Yet the blood of the wicked shall flow like a river. The three shall spread their blackened wings and be the vengeful striking hammer of god."
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Re: Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji to become sumo's 73rd yokozuna

Post by Tocsin »

He will be staying on as an elder after retirement then.

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