Tokyo, 27 November, /AJMEDIA/
Lone yokozuna Terunofuji will head into the final weekend of the Fukuoka Grand Sumo Tournament with the outright lead and a perfect 13-0 record after dominating sekiwake Mitakeumi on Friday.
He holds a one-win buffer over No. 15 maegashira Abi, who took sole ownership of second place after stunning ozeki Takakeisho in a tie-breaking battle on Day 13 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Having won 11 of their 15 previous top-level meetings, Terunofuji maintained his superiority over Mitakeumi (9-4) at the 15-day tournament, taking his belt at the jump and bulldozing him straight back and out.
Sumo’s sole yokozuna following Hakuho’s recent retirement, the 29-year-old Terunofuji will continue his bid for a sixth Emperor’s Cup on Saturday against Abi.
Fighting in the top division for the first time since serving a three-tournament suspension for breaking the Japan Sumo Association’s coronavirus safety rules in July 2020, former komusubi Abi continued to impress in Fukuoka.
Tied at 11-1 with fellow pusher-thruster Takakeisho coming into their bout, Abi never took a backward step in the anticipated battle.
