In a match hailed as a classic, ozeki Kirishima staged a remarkable comeback against No. 13 maegashira Kotoeiho, his fellow leader, at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday (May 15). The victory allowed Kirishima to once again hold the top spot alone as the tournament enters its final two days.
The bout was tense from the opening seconds. Kotoeiho, who has been this year's big surprise, came out with fierce determination and repeatedly overwhelmed Kirishima with powerful thrusts. However, Kirishima — one of the strongest wrestlers in the tournament — held his ground and bided his time.
When Kotoeiho lunged with a decisive attack, Kirishima deftly sidestepped and executed a sharp leg trip, causing his opponent to lose balance and fall face-first onto the dohyo (sumo ring). The win was seen as a pivotal turning point, lifting Kirishima's record to 10 wins against 3 losses, while Kotoeiho dropped to second place with the same record.
With only two days of competition left, the title race at this year's Summer tournament promises to remain highly dramatic. Kirishima is now the frontrunner, but Kotoeiho and several other wrestlers still have a chance to turn the tables. The tournament continues Saturday (May 16) in Tokyo.
