Revival of the Blue Dragon
This time, Asashōryū caught Hakuhō
Let the pictures tell you the story. This time the Blue Dragon has swallowed up the White Bird. Bravo ! Asashōryū is making a come back and this is the type of sumo we are all waiting for. Hail the revival of the Blue Dragon !
Hakuhō Shō slammed Asashōryū Akinori
Top two Yokozuna, Hakuhō vs Asashōryū
In probably the most important bout of his short but illustrious sumo career, yokozuna Hakuho beat Asashoryu on Sunday to win the first Emperor’s Cup of 2008.
It was Hakuho’s third straight makuuchi division championship, but those victories had taken place with Asashoryu absent, suspended for playing hooky from a regional tour in the summer.
Throughout the second week of the New Year Tournament, the 22-year-old Hakuho had faced questions about how he would match up against his fellow Mongolian, a 21-time Emperor’s Cup winner who had beaten him 10 times in 15 career meetings.
Hakuho’s response on Sunday was to throw Asashoryu to the dirt to win the sixth Emperor’s Cup of his career.
“Since the summer tour, I’ve been working really hard for this bout,” Hakuho said ringside after he had received the cup from Japan Sumo Association chairman Kitanoumi.
“I didn’t want to lose to a yokozuna who was coming back [from an absence]. I didn’t want to let down my supporters–their expectations were very high.
“Of course, now I want to go for four in a row.”
There is no reason Hakuho can’t, although the smart money is on Asashoryu coming back strong after he was bested in a contest of two immensely proud men.
The two yokozuna refused to back down as they prepared for the bout, and once it started, lived up to their rank.
Hakuho was always on the attack but as with everyone who faces Asashoryu, had trouble turning that into victory.
A double-handed belt grip gave Hakuho a chance to force Asa to the bales, but Asa had the same grip on Hakuho’s belt and fought back, returning the contest to the middle of the ring.
Hakuho attacked again, forcing both into Asa’s side of the ring. Asa’s response was to lift his younger compatriot into the air, but it was an empty gesture. When Hakuho touched down, he started a left-hand, overarm throw that seemed to happen in slow motion before Asashoryu somersaulted to defeat.
Asashoryu’s performance over 15 days confirmed his recovery from the stress-related illness that left him a shadow of his former self in the summer. Sunday’s loss and a Day 2 reversal to No. 1 maegashira Kisenosato aside, the yokozuna swept aside every wrestler he met in the ring.
Lost on the 2nd day
I was at the Mitsubishi’s Corporation One Day Internship seminar yesterday and I did not manage to watch this match when it really happened. Able to wake up early today after keeping a steady life routine lately, I was surprised when I got to know about this from my junior’s Facebook status and watched it on sports news on TV. The match was fast but definitely a great match it was. Kisenosato’s right hand tsuppari caught him at the right place and pushed him out of the ring. What a bad lost for Asashōryū but thumbs up to Kisenosato ! They should give more attention to Kisenosato and report news based on his win instead of Asashōryū’s lost. I guess more attention would be given to a Yokozuna. Anyway, the flying zabutons scene was superb ! Really wish to see real sumo live one day.
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