Sumo: Onosato Wins Narrowly, Criticized for Risky Move
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Onosato, one of sumo's top wrestlers, won a difficult match on day two of the Kyushu tournament.
He is ranked yokozuna, the highest level in sumo wrestling.
Onosato faced Fujiryoga and won, but the match was close. He used a hikiwaza, a technique where a wrestler pulls his opponent backward instead of pushing forward.
This move can put the user in a dangerous position, since stepping back can lead to losing balance near the edge of the ring.
Kasugano, a former wrestler who now works as an oyakata (a sumo stable master and coach), commented on the match as a TV analyst for NHK.
Kasugano criticized Onosato's choice, saying it was "something you should not do" at his rank.
In another match that day, Hoshoryu defeated Asanoyama, earning his second straight win of the tournament.
Hoshoryu dominated the bout against Asanoyama, who is a former ozeki, the second-highest sumo rank.
Despite the loss, Asanoyama expressed happiness about competing in the day's final match, known as the musubi-no-ichiban.
He said he was glad to show he still belonged on the top stage, adding, "I felt happy to be here."
This was Asanoyama's first match against a yokozuna in 16 tournaments, showing how long it had been since he last reached that level of competition.
The Kyushu tournament continues, with both yokozuna Onosato and Hoshoryu looking to build on their strong starts.
Vocabulary6 words
- yokozuna
- the highest rank in sumo wrestling
- hikiwaza
- a sumo move where you pull, not push
- oyakata
- a former wrestler who now coaches
- ozeki
- the second-highest rank in sumo
- musubi-no-ichiban
- the last, most important match of the day
- tournament
- a sports event with many matches over time
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A pulling move (hikiwaza) 2. Onosato used a risky pulling technique 3. 16 tournaments
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Onosato, one of sumo's top wrestlers, won a difficult match on day two of the Kyushu _____.
He is ranked _____, the highest level in sumo wrestling.
Onosato used a _____, a technique where a wrestler pulls his opponent backward.
This move can put the user in a _____ position near the edge of the ring.
Kasugano, a former wrestler who now works as an _____, commented on the match.
Kasugano criticized Onosato's choice, calling it something he should not _____.
Hoshoryu defeated Asanoyama, earning his second straight _____ of the tournament.
Asanoyama is a former _____, the second-highest sumo rank.
This was Asanoyama's first match against a yokozuna in 16 _____.
Asanoyama said he felt happy to be on the top _____ again.
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