Takafuji won his first championship at the Grand Sumo Spring Tournament. This is the first time in 110 years that a new wrestler has won the championship. We look back on the path to victory from what they said after the competition.
[Effort video] Grand Sumo wrestler Takefuji wins for the first time as a new wrestler
[First day of training] Winning
start for new makuuchi wrestlers When asked about his first makuuchi dohyo, he answered, ``It was the first day, so it was tough at times. All I had to do was concentrate and get into the dohyo.''
[Day 2]
Victory over veteran Endo. When asked if he was able to create his ideal form, he answered, "I haven't done it at all. My opponent is strong, so there's no point in thinking about it as much as I want. I thought about what I needed to do."
[Day 3]
After defeating my classmate Roma and clinching my third consecutive victory, he said, ``I'm surprisingly calm. Nothing has changed for me. Nothing has changed for me in terms of what I do. Just concentrate.”
[Day 4]
After overwhelming the veteran Myogiryu and being told by the press that he has momentum, he said, ``Makuuchi is not an easy dohyo.
[Day 5]
When asked about his five consecutive wins since the first day, he said, "It doesn't matter where I am in the ranking. I don't feel happy."
[Day 6]
Nihon University's senior wins 6th consecutive match against Minoumi When asked if this is the best sumo wrestling at this place, he answered, "I think it's a convincing sumo match. On the ring, I don't really look up to him as a senior. .It's important to have the will to move forward.I think the content is getting better day by day.''
[Day 7]
7 consecutive wins while Yokozuna is on hiatus. When asked if he felt his concentration has increased, he replied, "I don't really feel it. I feel like my body is catching up more than my concentration. I don't know if I'll get injured, and I don't know if I'll get injured the next day.Every day, I'm filled with the desire to adjust my condition for that day and get into the ring for 15 days.''
[Day 8]
He was the only one to advance with eight consecutive wins, and when asked if he had imagined what he would do so far, he replied, ``Not at all.I only practice with makuuchi wrestlers in my room, but to what extent can I train with makuuchi wrestlers?'' I was worried about whether I would be able to do it in the dohyo.”
[Day 9]
In the first Sanyaku match, he unilaterally defeated Komusubi and Anen and said, ``I think I'm able to concentrate by doing the same thing over and over again every day.Everyone is strong, but I just have to do my best for 15 days. Yes, but I'm doing this because I want to gain confidence."
[Day 10]
10th consecutive victory by defeating Ohnosato, who was being chased by just one star I have a record of ``I'm going to compete'' on the big stage, and I've been practicing hard.I'm glad I was able to realize this early on.I entered from the bottom of the ranking, so the things I've been working on in the room have paid off. happy"
[Day 11]
After defeating Ozeki Kotonowaka and clinching 11 consecutive wins since the first day, he said, ``I think the flow was good. I'm happy. My opponent is an Ozeki and I didn't think it would go as I imagined, so I just believed in myself.''
As a new recruit, when asked about his thoughts on tying the record of Taiho, the great yokozuna of the Showa era, he answered, ``I wasn't concerned about the record, but I'm happy to have matched the record with such a great and amazing person.'' I have to remember it, otherwise it won't become a record. I hope to be able to compete in sumo that will leave a lasting impression on everyone."
[Day 12]
After losing to ozeki Toyo Shoryu and suffering his first loss, he said, ``I just have to do my own sumo so that it doesn't change.''
[Day 13]
12th win by defeating sekiwake Wakamotoharu, avoiding the previous day's loss. When asked if he had changed his mind from the previous day's disappointment, he answered, "It's not something I'll forget all of a sudden, but the next day's sumo... I didn't think it would be good for me to be involved in this, so I decided not to think about anything, just believe in myself and do what I can.If I can't do it, there's nothing I can do about it, and it's a win-lose sport, so I feel like I have no choice but to do it.''