Less than three years after knee injuries threatened to end his career, sekiwake Terunofuji capped his incredible comeback on Sunday, winning the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament for his third career title and earning re-promotion to the elite ozeki rank.
The 29-year-old, who last wrestled at the sport's second-highest rank in September 2017, entered the 15th and final day at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan with an 11-3 record and a one-win lead over three wrestlers with 10 wins.
In the first clash between the two since Takakeisho defeated Terunofuji in November's championship playoff, the sekiwake tried to grab his opponent by the arm from the jump and swing him out. Unfortunately, he missed and found himself pressed back to the straw. But Takakeisho, whose specialty is pushing and shoving, failed to get that job done. Terunofuji fought his way back from the brink, and survived an effort by Takakeisho to pull him down by the arm before savagely thrusting him out.