ID :
142627
Sun, 09/19/2010 - 09:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/142627
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Sumo: Hakuho surpasses Chiyonofuji's 53-bout streak+
TOKYO, Sept. 18 Kyodo - This time, Mongolian grand champion Hakuho drew the sellout crowd he deserves.
Hakuho made history on Saturday, becoming the only wrestler in postwar Japan to
win 54 consecutive bouts, putting him past former yokozuna great Chiyonofuji
(53) on the seventh day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day's finale, Hakuho absorbed a hard charge from Kisenosato, slipping
slightly on the dirt before recovering nicely to send the komusubi packing with
a series of shoves to extend his run that started on the 14th day of the New
Year meet.
Although Hakuho fell off balance, he used his hands pressing downward on the
top of Kisenosato's neck while deftly maneuvering around his opponent to gain
leverage to place him outside the ring -- afterward gleefully smiling at the
crowd which erupted in cheers.
The 25-year-old lone yokozuna shares the lead at 7-0 at the 15-day meet with
Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu and surprise-package Yoshikaze.
''I definitely was nervous but since I reached my goal yesterday (of 53
straight wins) I think I could relax in my bout today. He stopped me in my
tracks once but my lower body is very sturdy, so I stayed calm. I feel like I
really repaid my debt of gratitude to sumo elder Kokonoe today,'' said Hakuho,
who jokingly apologized to Chiyonofuji, now sumo elder Kokonoe, after his bout.
''I will continue to make efforts everyday in the ring,'' he continued.
It was the first time at this meet that the ''maninonrei'' banners were dropped
above the suspended roof over the ring for a sellout crowd at Ryogoku
Kokugikan.
Chiyonofuji's winning streak ran from May to November 1988.
''This is just one milestone in his career,'' said Kokonoe. ''I want him to
continue fighting hard in all his bouts. It doesn't matter who his opponent is.
The point is he has to remain focused in his sumo. I don't see any areas of
weakness in him.''
Hakuho's mark is the second best since the start of the Showa era (1926-1988).
Former yokozuna Futabayama holds the all-time leading record of 69 straight
wins, which he set from the seventh day of the 1936 spring meet until the third
day of the 1939 spring meet.
Hakuho is bidding for his fourth consecutive title (16th overall) with a
perfect 15-0 record, which would put him just seven wins shy of Futabayama's
record at the Kyushu meet in November.
==Kyodo
Hakuho made history on Saturday, becoming the only wrestler in postwar Japan to
win 54 consecutive bouts, putting him past former yokozuna great Chiyonofuji
(53) on the seventh day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day's finale, Hakuho absorbed a hard charge from Kisenosato, slipping
slightly on the dirt before recovering nicely to send the komusubi packing with
a series of shoves to extend his run that started on the 14th day of the New
Year meet.
Although Hakuho fell off balance, he used his hands pressing downward on the
top of Kisenosato's neck while deftly maneuvering around his opponent to gain
leverage to place him outside the ring -- afterward gleefully smiling at the
crowd which erupted in cheers.
The 25-year-old lone yokozuna shares the lead at 7-0 at the 15-day meet with
Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu and surprise-package Yoshikaze.
''I definitely was nervous but since I reached my goal yesterday (of 53
straight wins) I think I could relax in my bout today. He stopped me in my
tracks once but my lower body is very sturdy, so I stayed calm. I feel like I
really repaid my debt of gratitude to sumo elder Kokonoe today,'' said Hakuho,
who jokingly apologized to Chiyonofuji, now sumo elder Kokonoe, after his bout.
''I will continue to make efforts everyday in the ring,'' he continued.
It was the first time at this meet that the ''maninonrei'' banners were dropped
above the suspended roof over the ring for a sellout crowd at Ryogoku
Kokugikan.
Chiyonofuji's winning streak ran from May to November 1988.
''This is just one milestone in his career,'' said Kokonoe. ''I want him to
continue fighting hard in all his bouts. It doesn't matter who his opponent is.
The point is he has to remain focused in his sumo. I don't see any areas of
weakness in him.''
Hakuho's mark is the second best since the start of the Showa era (1926-1988).
Former yokozuna Futabayama holds the all-time leading record of 69 straight
wins, which he set from the seventh day of the 1936 spring meet until the third
day of the 1939 spring meet.
Hakuho is bidding for his fourth consecutive title (16th overall) with a
perfect 15-0 record, which would put him just seven wins shy of Futabayama's
record at the Kyushu meet in November.
==Kyodo
