Sumo: Promotion-seeking Kirishima, Onosato go head-to-head in practice

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Kirishima confidently demonstrated his skills in practice on Friday, paving the way for his second consecutive quest for yokozuna promotion at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. The wrestler, hailing from Mongolia, ventured outside his stable to spar with other high-ranking wrestlers for the first time since the rankings for the September 13-27 tournament were unveiled.

Kirishima faced off against yokozuna Onosato in a spirited head-to-head series, participating in 11 of the 16 practice bouts, securing five victories and suffering six defeats. Expressing enthusiasm, Kirishima stated, "It was fun. I trained with a strong desire not to lose." Kirishima frequently targeted the yokozuna from his left side, aiming to counter Onosato's dominant right-hand inside grip.

Having split their first ten grand tournament encounters, Kirishima finally emerged victorious against Onosato in their most recent meeting in July, indicating his growing ability to challenge the yokozuna. "I'm thinking through various strategies," Kirishima remarked. "Since this is the practice ring, it's important to be bold and give it my all."

The 30-year-old Kirishima has maintained a 12-3 record in three consecutive tournaments since claiming his third title at the Spring meet. To ascend to the sport's pinnacle, he will likely require a championship with at least 13 wins during the 15-day competition at Ryogoku Kokogikan. Kirishima plans to continue visiting other stables for practice bouts in preparation for the event. "Every tournament is crucial," he affirmed. "I'm going to stick to my own pace right to the end."