Yokozuna Onosato withdrew from the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on the fourth day. The 25-year-old submitted his withdrawal notice to the Japan Sumo Association a day after three straight losses to open the tournament at Edion Arena Osaka. This is his second mid-tournament withdrawal.
The Spring Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place at Edion Arena Osaka, where Onosato lost on the opening day to No. 1 maegashira Wakatakakage, marking his first opening-day defeat in five tournaments since reaching yokozuna rank. He then fell to new komusubi Atamifuji on day two and to No. 2 maegashira Fujinokawa on day three, with the win marking Fujinokawa's first career victory over a yokozuna.
Onosato submitted his withdrawal notice before the action began on the fourth day Wednesday. As a result, No. 1 maegashira Yoshinofuji received a forfeit victory over Onosato, improving to 2-2 after having defeated ozeki Aonishiki on the second day.
Meanwhile, Fujinokawa earned his second kinboshi by slapping down the other yokozuna, Hoshoryu, in the day's final bout, handing him his first loss. Aonishiki, seeking a third straight title that could lead to yokozuna promotion, lost to No. 2 maegashira Churanoumi and dropped to 2-2.
This marks Onosato's second tournament withdrawal; he pulled out on the final day of last November's Kyushu Tournament due to a shoulder injury while in title contention. The withdrawal evokes a painful reminder of his stablemaster's past injury fate, with sumo fans wondering if history might be repeating itself.
