Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sumo Nagoya Basho 2013 Day 15 - Final Day

Sumo Nagoya Basho 2013 Day 15 - Final Day


Ms14e   Wakanoshima (5-1)  vs Ms24e   Kyokutaisei (5-1)
Kyoku skirted the edges and Waka went for it hard and went right down.
Ms5e    Kotokuni (3-3)  vs J11w    Takanoyama (6-8)
Tak went to the side when being overpowered then got in low and went close and then threw a beautiful hip throw for the win. Tak may be able to stay in Juryo due to this one.
J11e    Tanzo (7-7) vs J9w     Osunaarashi (9-5)
Tanzo charged in too hard and Osuna got some easy slaps in before he threw down Tanzo.

 
J13w    Endo (13-1) vs J6w     Homasho (9-5)
Endo used long thrusts and Homasho slipped his way to a quick loss.

 
J9e     Seiro (9-5) vs J3w     Tochinowaka (9-5)
Toch was losing but he went for a throw and Seiro touched first. The judges apparently didn't see it but still gave to it to Toch.

K1e     Shohozan (6-8)  vs   M9e     Aoiyama (10-4)
Sho rushed Aoi and surprised him for a quick win.
M5w     Toyonoshima (6-8) vs S1w     Goeido (7-7)
Go rushed hard and caught Toyo off guard and won easy.
S1e     Myogiryu (7-7)  vs M6w     Okinoumi (9-5)
Myo kept pushing here with Oki having nothing to offer back, leading to an easy win.
O2e     Kakuryu (9-5) vs O2w     Kotooshu (9-5)
Kaku got under Koto and did a great hip throw to win this.
O1e     Kisenosato (11-3) vs O1w     Kotoshogiku (8-6)
Koto pushed hard aggressively and Kisen held him. Kisen turned him around and Koto pushed more and backed Kisen up and out. Kisen might have gone a little easy on Koto here but he might have also not.
Y1e     Hakuho (13-1) vs Y1w     Harumafuji (9-5)

Hakuho pretty much gave this to Harumafuji. It is said that he got injured either yesterday or the day before. He already won the tournament so this was mostly a gift. Haru came at him and hit a good tachi ai that sent him back and gave him another before Haku stepped out. Hakuho did nothing here and didn't even try.

Final Rankings:



 Juryo:

Overall thoughts for each wrestler:

Hakuho - This was another great basho for Hakuho. He continues to be on his own level and there is no one even near him. He did get injured near the end and it's too bad, as he may have gone 15-0 otherwise. It would be risky to pick anyone but him for the next basho. He continues to the be the standard bearer for Sumo.

Harumafuji - As someone said, "He's a great ozeki but an average Yokozuna". If there was some kind of Super Ozeki or Junior Yokozuna rank, he'd be perfect for it, but he's stuck. He's better than the other Ozeki, mostly because some of the Ozeki like Kotooshu, Kotoshogiku and Kakuryu are or were good enough to become an Ozeki but will never actually win anything. I feel for the guy and I have to wonder what his career would be like if Hakuho weren't around. I guess the same could be said for some others as well. His basho wasn't very good and like usual, he took too many stupid losses early that cost him.

Kisenosato - He had a good basho as he beat both Yokozuna but he too blew it early. Granted, he didn't lose to anyone past M3 rank, but he really should have only lost one or two here. His Yokozuna hopes are over and barring Hakuho being out, he will not be Yokozuna anytime soon. I think he is looking better and certainly him beating both Yokozuna will do wonders for him. He just needs to win a basho, and there's no other way around it.

Kotoshogiku - He started off strong but he got henka'd twice and truly got screwed. Those two losses, which happened next to each other, really blew his basho and took him out early. Other than that, he had a decent basho but he really needs some new moves. He really only wins by using the side to side method to lift his opponent out.

Kotooshu - He had a good basho. He was 9-1 through Day 10. His best win was against Tokitenku and his worst loss was against M1 Takayasu. He actually looked like he cared at times and was much better than he was earlier this year.

Kakuryu - He did his usual basho. He's mostly a 9 to 10 win guy and he got 10 this time. His best win was against Kotoshogiku and his worst loss was against M2 Tochiozan. Not bad. He's good enough to be Ozeki but he's not going to go further unless he gets better.

Shohozan - His big win was against Kotooshu and he pulled it back together after struggling early. He went 7-8 but he will still be near the top. 

Jokoryu - He didn't look real good out there. I'm worried that he has peaked and he has to improve.

Endo - He had a great basho and impressed me. I never thought he would do so well and his basho was a monster success. This guy is the real deal and an incredible prospect.

Tochinowaka - He looked good this basho. He has learned to use his new size and has done some good sumo. He did finish in second at 10-5 but took too many losses that he could have avoided. He should probably be in the 1st division next basho.

Osunaarashi - He looked very good. He held his ground and performed a lot better than expected. He still has things to learn but he's probably going to be in the top division sooner rather than later.

Takanoyama - He looked awful early on but turned things around towards the end. He schooled Osunaarashi and his win on the last day was very good. He still is one of the best wrestlers technique wise and I hope he can pull it all together. I'd love to see him make it to the top division again or atleast stay in Juryo. Hopefully, he doesn't get demoted.

Thanks for tuning in to my coverage of the Sumo Nagoya Basho 2013! See you in September!

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