Aonishiki and Houshouryuu newses

[Moti Dichne]

Houshouryuu went to Sakaigawa beya for degeiko today,  showing favorable progress. He went 20-3 against Makuuchi Daieishou and Hiradoumi. His sharp thrusts from a right-hand grip and pushes from a low angle were notable, and he commented with satisfaction, "I think it went well. It was a good training session." This is Houshouryuu's sixth tournament as a Yokozuna. With one week until the Hatsu Basho, where he aims to win his first yusho at the highest rank, the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee will hold its soken on the 5th. Houshouryuu said with a serious expression, "I'm not going to focus on winning or losing, I'm going to carefully review my movements. I want to enter the basho in good shape."

Aonishiki (21, Ajigawa), who will compete as a new Ozeki in Hatsu went to Arashio beya in Chuo Ward, Tokyo on the 4th for his first degeiko before the tournament, where he went 6-2 against Komusubi Wakamotoharu and Maegashira Wakatakakage. His preparations began on the 3rd and this was also e his first time doing sumo since the banzuke announcement on December 22nd last year, and he commented, "I've been quite busy, and my body isn't ready yet.. I'll get in shape little by little." His forward leaning attack is still going strong, and there was a moment when  Wakamotoharu had his favorite left hand grip, but Aonishiki managed to get his head inside and pushed him out. "If we don't put go chest to chest I can somehow pull it off.. If I keep on doing sumo, my sense of it will come back," he said confidently. At the end of the year, he appeared on a series of television programs, saying, "It was good to meet people who are active in a different world from mine. " After consulting with his Oyakata Ajigawa (former sekiwake Aminishiki), he decided to take it easy after the New Year, and said with a serious expression, "I will concentrate on sumo." He spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day relaxing with the other rikishi in his heya. The 21-year-old rising star from Ukraine, who has publicly stated his goal is to become a Yokozuna, remained calm and said, 'I want to always be in the spotlight. I'll keep doing what I do.'"