Sumo Star Anseikin Loses Again, Fans Worry About Ankle
Listen to the story
Anseikin, a top-ranked ozeki wrestler, is having a difficult Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. He had hoped to win the tournament for a second time in a row, but he has now lost two matches in a row.
In his most recent match, he was defeated by another wrestler, Gonoyama, who pushed him down in a one-sided contest. Commentators said Anseikin lost because of a "pressure defeat," meaning his opponent's forward force was simply too strong for him.
After the loss, fans noticed Anseikin touching his left ankle. This has raised concerns that he might be dealing with an injury. Some fans commented online that his sumo "clearly lacks fighting spirit," suggesting something may be affecting his performance.
Hakkaku, the chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, also commented on Anseikin's struggles. He said the wrestler's tachi-ai, the crucial first charge at the start of a match, has been weak. Hakkaku suggested this is because Anseikin has not been able to train properly recently.
At the same time, Hakkaku had high praise for Gonoyama, saying his overwhelming performance in the match was impressive. The contrast between the two wrestlers has added to speculation about what is going on with Anseikin.
Fans and sumo experts will be watching closely to see whether Anseikin can recover in the remaining days of the tournament, or whether his ankle issue will continue to affect his results.
Vocabulary10 words
- ozeki
- a very high rank in sumo wrestling
- sumo
- a traditional Japanese sport of wrestling
- ankle
- the joint connecting the foot and leg
- tachi-ai
- the initial charge at the start of a sumo match
- train
- to practice regularly to improve skill
- one-sided
- when one side is much stronger than the other
- pressure
- strong forward force used to push an opponent
- chairman
- the leader of an organization
- overwhelming
- extremely strong or powerful
- speculation
- guessing about something without full information
Quiz
Answer key
1. Two 2. Because he has not been able to train properly 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Anseikin, a top-ranked ozeki wrestler, is having a difficult Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. He had hoped to win the tournament for a second time in a row, but he has now lost two matches in a _____.
In his most recent match, he was defeated by another wrestler, Gonoyama, who pushed him down in a _____ contest. Commentators said Anseikin lost because of a "pressure defeat," meaning his opponent's forward force was simply too strong for him.
After the loss, fans noticed Anseikin touching his left _____. This has raised concerns that he might be dealing with an injury.
Some fans commented online that his sumo "clearly lacks fighting _____," suggesting something may be affecting his performance.
Hakkaku, the chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, also commented on Anseikin's struggles. He said the wrestler's _____, the crucial first charge at the start of a match, has been weak.
Hakkaku suggested this is because Anseikin has not been able to _____ properly recently.
At the same time, Hakkaku had high _____ for Gonoyama, saying his overwhelming performance in the match was impressive.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think fans were worried after seeing Anseikin touch his ankle?
- Do you think injuries should be officially announced in sports competitions? Why or why not?
- What does the tachi-ai tell us about a sumo wrestler's condition?
- How important is a strong start in sports you know about?