Bulgarian Kotooshu got off to a shaky start yesterday in his bid for promotion to sumo’s highest rank of grand champion.
Ozeki Kotooshu was shoved off the raised ring by top maegashira Aminishiki to lose his first bout at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kotooshu, who won the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in May, comes into the 15-day Nagoya tournament looking for promotion to grand champion, but did not get the start he wanted.
Kotooshu made sumo history in May, becoming the first European to win an Emperor’s Cup.
The 25-year-old Bulgarian, whose real name is Kaloyan Mahlyanov, won the summer meet with a 13-1 record.
Aminishiki took advantage of a weak face-off and shoved Kotooshu out in a matter of seconds. Kotooshu would likely be promoted to grand champion if he wins this meet, but a perfect record would have made it easier.
Elsewhere, Grand champion Hakuho of Mongolia, who will be out to challenge Kotooshu for the Emperor’s Cup, forced out komusubi Kisenosato for an opening-day win.
Fellow Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu did not fare as well, losing to komusubi Toyonoshima in the day’s final bout at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Asashoryu forced Toyonoshima to the edge of the ring, but touched the dirt surface with his hand as the two wrestlers fell out.
In other major bouts, Chiyotaikai, who needs a winning record in this tournament to maintain his ozeki status, got off to a winning start with an arm thrust that sent No. 2 maegashira Hokutoriki over the edge.
Ozeki Kaio forced out Mongolian Asasekiryu to pick up an opening-day win.
Mongolian Ama, wrestling as a sekiwake used an arm throw to send No. 3 maegashira Futeno sprawling to the dirt surface.
Ozeki Kotomitsuki twisted down top maegashira Wakanoho to get off to a winning start.
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