Wakatakakage, Kirishima training news
Moti Dichne
Sekiwake Wakatakakage, who is aiming for Ozeki this basho, did full-scale training ahead of the basho today at his heya. He fought a total of seven consecutive matches against Sekiwake Kirishima, who came to train, Maegashira Wakamotoharu and Juryo Daiseizan, finishing with 6 wins and 1 loss. The breakdown of the matches is as follows:
○ Daiseizan (yorikiri)
● Wakamotoharu (yorikiri)
○ Wakamotoharu (yorikiri)
○ Wakamotoharu (yorikiri)
○ Kirishima (yorikiri)
○ Kirishima (yorikiri)
○ Kirishima (oshidashi)
In addition to his signature left thrust, he also frequently used a right nodowa to push. On the night of the 4th, he developed a high fever of around 38.5 degrees, and did not practice sumo for three days after the YDC soken on the 5th. Despite this, he continued to practice for four more days.
This will be his first clear attempt to become an Ozeki, but he said, "Everything is as usual," and he will approach the tournament with the same mindset as in previous tournaments. He will be receiving more attention than ever before, but he expressed his strong determination, saying, "I want to fight my hardest so I can make it happen." His Oyakata, who watched his training, also commented, "He had a fever on the 1st, but it didn't affect him and he did what he had to do. He usually has knee pains before tournaments, but that didn't happen this time, so he was able to practice. Tomorrow is a day off. The younger wrestlers will be wrestling on Saturday, but I think Wakatakakage will be taking it easy..." He was pleased with how well Wakatakakage is doing after suffering a serious right knee injury in Haru 2023, and he gave his stamp of approval that he is doing well this time and that he is fully prepared to take on this decisive attempt to climb to Ozeki.
Sekiwake Kirishima had his first full-scale training session ahead of Aki basho. Today he went to Arashio beya for degeiko, where he had five bouts against Sekiwake Wakatakakage and others, finishing with one win and four losses. Concerned about his right wrist, which he injured during keiko at the summer jungyo, he withdrew from the bouts midway today and iced the injured area outside the heya. "I couldn't do serious keiko the way I wanted to. I couldn't even complete the number of bouts I had planned. Last tournament, I went from 8-2 (with five straight losses) to 8-7. Rather than being satisfied with a winning record, I want to work hard to achieve double-digit wins." He set a goal of achieving double-digit wins and establishing a new starting point for his return to Ozeki.