[sumo] [Spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 11 Hatsu Basho 2007

Wed Jan 17 15:59:01 EST 2007

Wakanoho, Juryo West 12 (3-8) losing to Ryuho by
Utchari
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Suffering his first Makekoshi basho since his dohyo
debut)
"I can't stand it. In Juryo rikishis get a lot tougher
at the dohyo edge.."

Ushiomaru (8-3) over Hakurozan by yorikiri, 6.1
seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Notching only second Kachikoshi in Makuuchi since
winning nine bouts back in the 2002 Aki basho, barely
staying in Makkuuchi despite only winning five bouts
last basho)
"It's been a while and it sure took a long time. There
is no other word to describe my feeling than saying I
am so happy."
" I have had bad inuries in the past. I've fallen down
to Makushita twice too. I almost want to praise myself
for enduring so long and so well all these years."
(Having success this basho by rounding his 176 cm
frame to aggressively move forward. He is scheduled to
participate in a bean-throwing ceremony in Feburary
this year at a shrine in his home town in Shizuoka).
"Now I can report the good news to folks back home
this year."

Asofuji (3-8) losing to Toyozakura by okuridashi, 26.3
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Recording Makekoshi on his 31st birthday)
"This is the most miserable birthday I ever had. I
can't even celebrate myself. In Makuuchi they won't
easily let you get to their mawashi. "

Tamanoshima (8-3) over Kakizoe by sokubi-otoshi, 6.8
seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The first Kachikoshi in three bashos)
"This basho has been very exhausting for me. It feels
so long. I just hope I can keep winning. Lately
nothing good goes on so long for me."

Toyonoshima (9-2) over Kasugao by sotogake, 3.4
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Executing a perfect leg hook to down much bigger
Kasugao, making his 168 cm height to his advantage)
"I expected he would come with a throw one way or
another. I don't really know how I can explain my good
showing this basho. I may be winning because I am not
thinking so much about winning so I can go out
relaxed. My body is responding to my opponent's moves
naturally."
"Since I never got a double digit win record before.
for now I want to win one more. Of course if I could,
I want to make the basho as exciting as possible too."
(Planning to making a visit to his hometown in Kochi
Prefecture after the basho)
"I want to do my best as well for all the people back
home cheering for me and suppporting me all these
years."

Homasho (6-5) over Kotoshogiku by yoritaoshi, 7.9
seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Matched against another up and comer Kotoshogiku and
beating him by pressing his whole body against his.)
"I knew if I let him come into me and get into a yotsu
position, he can beat me easily. So I kept going
forward without taking a break. I believe that led to
the win."
"I've lost to him two in a row up to now so I
desparately wanted to win today."
"I feel the basho is moving along so quickly. So far I
am not feeling tired at all."

Kotoshogiku (5-6) losing to Homasho
--------------------------------------------
"I am losing control. My sumo is getting all out of
whack. I just have to forget about everything and go
all out. You know if I can win even one bout, the
whole outlook can change."

Dejima (3-8) losing to Kisenosato by oshidashi, 4,4
seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Feeling the curse of Asashoryu as after gaining the
kinboshi on day 3, kept on losing to go Makekoshi this
basho.)
"The difference between good and bad has been too
extreme. It's not that I have a particular injury or
pain somewhere.... I am not hitting my opponent hard
enough out of tachiai."

Kotomitsuki (6-5) over Ama by oshidashi, 17.5 seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"It wasn't a sharp sumo by no means but I was able to
stay calm. I tried not to get pushed away. Once I got
in a yotsu position, I didn't have to worry about
reacting to any sudden move."

Roho (3-8) losing to Kaio by okuridashi, 3.1 seconds
------------------------------------------------------------
(Now certain to be demoted out of Sanyaku)
"I injured my back during Kotooshu bout on day 5. I
will recover from the injury and make the challenge
again."

Kaio (6-5) over Roho
------------------------
(Stopping his losing skid at three)
"All I thought about todaly was to focus on my sumo. I
was also able to move forward. I also think my
opponent stayed higher than me and that helped. I will
be facing tougher opponents from now on. I really need
to get myself sharper and focus on going with my own
sumo form."

Tochiazuma (4-7) losing to Kyokutenho by yorikiri,
17.6 seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Losing his seventh, his knee injury still paramount
in his head)
"Right now this is all I am capable of. There is not
much more I can do. I was well aware of how tough this
is all going to be."
"I am getting the feel of the dohyo through my feet so
being here is really worth all the hardships. I am
happy that I have decided not to go on kyujo. I still
have four more days. What I am trying to do now is to
leave here with something to lead into the next basho.
"

Kyokutenho (6-5) over Tochiazuma
------------------------------------------
(After downing three ozekis, now having more wins than
losses)
"Finally! But when you think about it, I could have
never beaten him if he wasn't injured."

Chiyotaikai (8-3) losing to Kotooshu by uwatenage, 2.3
seconds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I thought he had moro-zashi or hari-sashi but I
didn't feel he got my mawashi. But you realize once
again he has long long arms."
(Coming back to suddenly silent morgue-like dressing
room after the only hope to realistically challenge
Asashoryu losing)
"Hey, guys, please don't be so quiet around here. You
win or you lose, that's all there is to this thing you
know."

Kotooshu (8-3) over Chiyotaikai
-------------------------------------
"I am happy that I got Kachikoshi. All I was thinking
of was to stop my opponent at the tachiai."
(Watching his own henka-like but winning performance
on TV monitor)
"Wow what a great timing! Well done!"
"From tomorrow on, I will go full out without thinking
of any extra things."

Hakuho (7-4) losing to Asashoryu by yorikiri, 16.3
seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Unable to start and do anything against Asashoryu)
"I thought even I could not get to the right uwate, if
I could get the uwate, I'd be OK. But I couldn't get
the uwate. The yokozuna is too quick so I can't get
myself into a firm yotsu position. He never stops. I
can't catch up to his speed. All I could do was to
follow his lead."
"Perhaps somewhere in my head I am thinking of kadoban
so I may be getting more passive."

Asashoryu (10-1) over Hakuho
----------------------------------
(No problem with Hakuho whom he had 1 win and 3 loss
record last year)
"I thought about all kinds of strategy. But I really
focused on the tachiai. Once I got the good tachiai, I
felt really great. Today I tried to build my flow by
moving one step ahead of him all the way. It was a
sumo exactly the way I wanted to have."
(Now only a Hiramaku Toyonoshima has one loss record
and again marching right on to the 20th yusho)
"No, I haven't really thought about the yusho yet.
We've still got a long way to go but I think I will
start thinking about it soon enough, at least my body
will."

Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
--------------------------------------------------
"I've been telling anyone who's challenging the
yokozuna to step out of tachiai with all the power
they could muster so they can get into their favorable
style. Unless they hit hard enough, they will have no
chance of beating him whatsoever."
"Let me make it clear. What I am saying is that none
of the ozekis have any right to be in the yusho race
at all."

Yusho race
--------------
Makuuchi:
1 loss - Asashoryu
2 losses - Toyonoshima
3 losses - Kotooshu, Chiyotaikai, Tamanoshima,
Ushiomaru

Juryo:
3 losses - Kobo

.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique      &#24515;&#12288;&#25216;&#12288;&#20307;&#12288;>

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