---
title: "Ukrainian Aonishiki Maintains Lead at Nagoya Basho: The Road to the Emperor's Cup"
description: "Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki maintains the lead at Nagoya Basho after defeating Takerafujii! 🇺🇦🏆 In the decisive match, he is set to face Atamifujii. Find out what scenarios are possible in the tournament finale. #sumo #sports"
date: 2026-07-25T14:28:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-aonishiki-maintains-lead-at-nagoya-basho
tags: [aonishiki, nagoya-basho, sumo, takerufuji, atamifuji]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukrainian Aonishiki Maintains Lead at Nagoya Basho: The Road to the Emperor's Cup

![Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki in a match at Nagoya Basho, fighting for leadership and the Emperor's Cup](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/25/ukrainets-aonishiki-uderzhivaet-liderstvo-na-nagoya-basho/ukrainets-aonishiki-uderzhivaet-liderstvo-na-nagoya-basho-1.webp)

On the penultimate, 14th day of the summer sumo grand tournament, Nagoya Basho, Ukrainian wrestler Daniil Yavhusyishin, competing under the name Aonishiki, secured a crucial victory, cementing his position at the top of the standings. This success allowed him to maintain sole leadership in the race for the season's main trophy — the Emperor's Cup.

### Victory over a Japanese veteran

In the match on the 14th day, the 22-year-old native of Vinnytsia faced the experienced Japanese sumo wrestler Takerafujii. The start of the bout did not go well for the Ukrainian: the opponent managed to seize the initiative, pinning Aonishiki against the edge of the ring (dohyo) and grabbing his mawashi (belt). However, Daniil did not break under pressure. A well-executed counterattack allowed him to turn the tide of the fight and snatch victory, which became his 11th win with two losses.

### Tournament situation

The fate of the championship title will be decided on Sunday, July 26, on the final day of the basho. In the last bout, Aonishiki will face another contender for victory — Atamifujii. The scenario for the end of the tournament can develop in several directions:

- **Direct victory:** If Daniil wins his final match, he will become the holder of the Emperor's Cup without the need for additional playoff bouts.

- **Playoff (ketchtai-sen):** In the event of the Ukrainian's defeat, an additional tournament will be held between Aonishiki and Atamifujii.

- **Triple playoff:** If Aonishiki loses, and his competitor Kirishima (who previously secured a technical victory over the withdrawn yokozuna Hoshoryu) wins, the audience will witness a battle of three wrestlers. According to the rules, in such a format, the champion will be the one who wins two consecutive matches first.

### Day's results for other Ukrainians

Another representative of Ukraine, Serhiy Sokolovsky (Shishi), on this day was definitively eliminated from the title race. In a direct confrontation with Atamifujii, where both wrestlers had an equal score of 10-3, Shishi lost. The cause of the defeat was an unsuccessful starting rush, which allowed the more bulky opponent to take advantage of his weight and height superiority.

Thus, all hopes of the Ukrainian national team for gold at the summer tournament are now placed exclusively on Daniil Yavhusyishin, who continues to shock the Japanese public with his progress and strength.