Aonishiki shares lead midway through Nagoya Basho

Ukrainian star Aonishiki shoved out Takanosho to reach the midway point of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament with seven wins and one loss but the Day 8 victory came with a cost.

Aonishiki forced Takanosho to the edge where the top maegashira stepped out just before the Ukrainian sekiwake lost his balance and appeared to injure his left leg.

Aonishiki , who gingerly walked off the dohyo wincing in pain, holds a share of the lead at 7-1 with compatriot Shishi and Mongolian Kirishima.

But whether Aonishiki will be able to fight on Monday against grand champion Onosato remains to be seen.

Aonishiki can earn an automatic return to the ozeki ranks with 10 wins in the 15-day tournament at IG Arena.

Ozeki Kirishima kept pace when he improved to 7-1 after shoving out sekiwake Atamifuji, who dropped to 5-3.

In other major bouts, yokozuna Hoshoryu got both arms around Daieisho and calmly waltzed the fourth-ranked maegashira out to pick up his sixth win against a pair of losses. Daieisho fell to 5-3.

Yokozuna Onosato kept his title hopes alive when he overpowered Oho (1-7) immediately after the face-off to move to 5-3. While it is only halfway through the basho, a fourth loss would have put a huge dent in Onosato’s title hopes.