Tamawashi

[Moti Dichne]

The warm applause that filled the arena spoke volumes about the respect people have for the iron man of the sumo world. Tamawashi defeated Asahakuryu by oshidashi,  getting his first win of the basho, ending his nine-match losing streak from day 1. This tournament marked his milestone 100th tournament in Makuuchi. With this victory, his total number of wins in Makuuchi is 713, surpassing Harumafuji and moving him up to 8th place all-time. He is now just one win away from Kisenosato, who is 7th all-time. He charged in sharply with his head at the tachiai, and used a right-handed nodowa to lift his opponent and push him out. He fought with his injured right knee taped up, but there was no look of relief on his face after the victory. "I'm not relieved. It wasn't perfect," he said, his words harsh. However, he had never made excuses up until now, but there was pain inside him. "It was tough...it would be wrong to say it wasn't," he said, flashing a brief smile as he revealed his true feelings. "I knew my condition, and there were some good bouts. It was tough because I couldn't win despite those," he reflected. He has overcome numerous trials before. In the 2023 Aki Basho , when he was ranked at M3, he suffered 11 consecutive losses from the first day. But this time, he said, "It's completely different. It's a battle against my opponent, but it's also a battle against myself," emphasizing the weight of the situation. That's why the cheers that filled the arena at the moment of victory were so loud. Tamawashi smiled at the cheers and said, "I did a good job." This long-awaited victory gave the veteran 41-year-old the strength to look forward once again.