Grand Sumo Tourney Opens - ONOBORI UPSETS TOCHINISHIKI-
Onobori (right) overpowers newly-elevated Grand Champion
Tochinishiki (left) with a "kotenage " throw in the biggest upset on the
opening day of the New Year's Grand Sumo Tournament Sunday at the Kokugikan
at Kuramae, Asakusa.
Onobori, a young 260-pound upstart, ranked fifth
among the West team's second echelon grapplers, Sunday showed no respect
for a newly-elevated Yokozuna by downing Tochinishiki, the Grand Champion
of the past two big tourneys, in the most stunning upset on the opening
day of the New Year's Grand Sumo Tournament at the Kokugikan at Kuramae,
Asakusa.
Tochinishiki's debut as a Yokozuna was spoiled when
Onobori spilled the 242-pound hero to the ground to stun the capacity crowd
that Jammed the huge sumo arena.
In another highlight of the day's heavy card of
bouts, lasting 12 hours from 6 a.m., Wakanohana 240, and Dewanishiki, 285,
locked furiously in a supreme test of strength and skill, battled to a
draw despite four extra periods. It was first standstill since the Asashio-Ohikari
standoff in the summer of 1952.
In other upsets, Shinobuyama whipped Asashio and
415 pound Ohikari overcame Ouchiyama 305, in a battle of giants.
From Monday the matches of the 15-day tourney starts
at 8 a.m.
Results of other matches;
Hajimayama beat Shimizugawa
Kitanonada beat Miyanishiki
Matsunobori beat Futatsuryu
Mitsuneyama beat Shionishiki
Kagamisato beat Tamanoumi
Yoshibayama beat Kotogahama
Chiyonoyama beat Wakasegawa.
