Veteran former ozeki Takayasu turned back the clock to upstage rising star Onosato at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.
Fighting among the rank-and-file as a No. 3 maegashira, the 34-year-old Takayasu (2-0) won the opening clash and pushed out the newly promoted komusubi as he attempted a counter in the highly anticipated Day 2 battle.
The action inside the ring at Ryogoku Kokugikan was overshadowed by the withdrawal earlier in the day of lone yokozuna Terunofuji and ozeki Takakeisho, who joined komusubi Asanoyama and March tournament winner Takerufuji among the big names on the injured list.
The injury-plagued Terunofuji will miss the rest of the meet after being diagnosed with rib damage and osteoarthritis of the knee following his loss to Onosato on Sunday.
Takakeisho, who lost his opening bout to second-ranked maegashira Hiradoumi, will be a demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki at the next tournament unless he can overcome a pectoral muscle injury and log eight wins here.
The 23-year-old Onosato, who was Sunday's only winner among the three elite "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna, is aiming to capture his maiden Emperor's Cup faster than any wrestler in sumo history.
Ozeki Kotozakura slapped down top-ranked maegashira Atamifuji (1-1) for his first win under the ring name he adopted from his former yokozuna grandfather, while demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Kirishima broke the ice by pushing out Hiradoumi.
The other remaining ozeki, Hoshoryu, continued to struggle in a push-out loss to sekiwake Abi, who has fueled expectations with his rise back through the ranks.
"I don't worry too much about people's expectations," Abi said. "I only concentrate on doing my own style of sumo."
Related coverage:
Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji, ozeki Takakeisho withdraw from summer meet
Sumo: Onosato beats yokozuna Terunofuji on upset-filled opening day
Sumo: Spring tourney winner Takerufuji withdraws from summer meet
