Sumo: Hoshoryu ends losing run as Atamifuji suffers 1st defeat in Kyushu

At the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, Yokozuna Hoshoryu ended a three-day losing streak on Friday. Seakingway Atamifuji suffered his first defeat in the tournament after six days, joining eight other wrestlers at the top of the leaderboard. Hoshoryu, who lost his match against No. 3 maegashira Takayasu in a sluggish manner, displayed great energy from the start and forced the former ozeki out at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Atamifuji, weighing 198 kilograms, was unable to stop the grappling former ozeki from securing a force-out loss. Yokozuna Onosato secured his fifth consecutive win with a solid bout, using his size to counter No. 3 maegashira Hakunofuji's opening drive and triumphing by frontal crush out. Kirishima was pushed around the raised ring initially by lively Fujiryoga but managed to grab the No. 1 maegashira's belt and defeat the tiring wrestler with a frontal crush out.

Ozeki Kotozakura's four-day winning run came to an end after being defeated by Yoshinofuji, who attacked aggressively and secured both hand belt holds before executing a left overarm throw. Ozeki Aonishiki, who won the first of his three Emperor's Cups in the previous year, dealt with a strong opening drive from Churanoumi and floored the new komusubi with a left overarm throw.

Sekiwake Fujinokawa pushed out No. 2 maegashira Ura in a fierce bout between two smaller wrestlers in the top-tier makuuchi division.