Terunofuji claims 5th Cup

Yokozuna Terunofuji was on his backside the moment he won his fifth career Emperor’s Cup during Sunday’s final day of action at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. The newly minted yokozuna was ringside when his closest rival staggered to a loss ending all the drama at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

No. 10 maegashira Myogiryu made things easy for Terunofuji by stumbling across the ring after the tachiai against sekiwake Meisei (8-7) and barely putting a finger on his opponent as he went hands-first to the surface of the dohyo.

Terunofuji stepped up two bouts later and manhandled ozeki Shodai (8-7) to finish off his first basho as a yokozuna — Hakuho withdrew before the start after two of his stablemates tested positive for the coronavirus — with a 13-2 and his third Emperor’s Cup in four basho.

“It doesn’t help to overthink things, so once I stepped into the ring, my plan was to do my best,” Terunofuji said. “The job of a sumo wrestler is to show what he can do in the dohyo, and that’s how I tried to perform,” said Terunofuji, who won the title for the first time in two tournaments.

“I’ve experienced winning the championship at a number of tournaments, and just to be able to win the title is difficult. So I appreciate the fact that I was able to win.”

Meanwhile, ozeki Takakeisho (87) — who entered the tournament in kadoban status, meaning he needed at least eight victories to keep his rank — lost to sekiwake Mitakeumi (9-6), but already had a winning record.

No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi (6-9) kept No. 6 maegashira Onosho (10-5) from adding to his win total. Tamawashi came out strong from the start-off and

pushed out his opponent without much resistance to avoid double-digit losses in Tokyo.

The same was true for No. 3 maegashira Wakatakakage, who defeated No. 17 maegashira Chiyonokuni for his ninth

win, keeping his opponent from his 10th victory.

No. 4 maegashira Daieisho, who earned his fourth Outstanding Performance Award, was looking for double digits in victories against komusubi Ichinojo (87)

and managed to push out the massive Mongolian to end with 10 wins.

Myogiryu finished 11-4 and picked up his sixth Technical Prize.

No Fighting Spirit Prize was awarded. (Sept. 27)

The Yomiuri Shimbun Yokozuna Terunofuji reacts after forcing out ozeki Shodai in the final bout of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday in Tokyo.