Terunofuji heralded the beginning of his reign as sole yokozuna on Sunday by downing new komusubi Kiribayama on the opening day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Match.

Mongolian-born Terunofuji received his fifth profession Emperor’s Cup in his grand-champion debut at September’s Autumn meet. Days later, the retirement of file 45-time match winner Hakuho left Terunofuji alone on the prime of the sumo world.

Terunofuji’s first-day win at Fukuoka Kokusai Heart didn’t come cheaply as Mongolian Kiribayama stored the yokozuna in examine regardless of permitting a left underarm belt maintain, getting a proper overarm belt maintain of his personal to pressure a protracted contest.

However the grand champion’s sheer measurement and energy allowed him to launch a pulling underarm throw to pressure Kiribayama off steadiness earlier than he used his proper arm to clinch the win with a komatasukui over-thigh scooping physique drop.

Terunofuji’s outstanding journey to this point has seen him drop from the second-highest rank of ozeki all the best way right down to fifth-tier jonidan as lately as March 2019 resulting from severe knee accidents and different well being points. However he has made an unprecedented revival since, battling his approach again to the elite makuuchi division in July 2020 and successful three of seven tournaments as he earned his promotion to yokozuna.