Yokozuna Asashoryu pulls out of Nagoya meet

Friday 18th July, 01:47 PM JST

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terebiko at 05:39 PM JST - 18th July

I think what Zen is saying is Asa's opponents hand touched before Asa did. It is a moot point though, because there is no instant replay and the side judges called him out. Sometimes the calls go for you, sometimes against. That's just the way it goes. (Though I am still angry about what I think were blown calls in the Seahawks Steelers Super Bowl game several years ago...LOL)

Hope he can come back in the next tourney.
Zen_Builder at 05:45 PM JST - 18th July

terebiko.

Thanks, and it is what I am refering to, the judges got access to video replays. Even if they didn't it was covered on national TV, quiet a few stations called it differently.

Don't get me wrong Asa was weak from the start but the call was dicey.
PrinceskaNo1 at 06:43 PM JST - 18th July

Kotooshyu will win the basho now!
hakushaku at 01:45 AM JST - 19th July

Yeah, there ARE instant replays everyone, the Shimpan have two guys in the video booth watching. As crappy and un-yokozuna-like a performance as it was, Asa clearly won that match by video, so I don't know what you're talking about Sarge.

But whatever, this is clearly an ego thing. He knows if he stayed in now he'd rack up another 3-4 losses for sure. Asa always collapses under the weight of a few losses.
sakura2008 at 10:14 AM JST - 19th July

hi all, in my opinion, 1.Asa had done what he must have done. Now, other guys , Hakuho, Ama etc must continue his job. So, why he can not have some rest. It was planned before maybe some 15 years ago. 2. He is mongolian, not chinese, japanese, or korean who can stay in foreign country for a good .Mongols always go back to home country .Never never forget and leave it (beautiful nature , freedom and nice people of the country always remind you that you must come back). So, they never can be immigrants. For while they can stay abroad but always go home. So, i hope that you guys now understand why he went to Mongolia last summer. Whatever happens, we go home. How many years he has been living here for. Just horrible. 3. You can not understand what the nomads think of Japan.
sakura2008 at 10:28 AM JST - 19th July

It is summer in Mongolia. All people enjoying it. I think, that lifestyle of any middle waged mongolian much better than that of japan. Because the are very very free. Just drive for 20-30 km and you can enjoy real nature but without croud
sakura2008 at 10:36 AM JST - 19th July

to Hennon, Yeas, he can play soccer at home. It is just human right.Playing soccer is much more different than wrestling. In soccer ,the feet are more important than hands and shoulders. Therefore, mongolians are different ,we can bare any difficulties much easier than ohter asians. Playing soccer with small injury is nothing for the mongolians .He, who came here when he was 17 y.o. could succeed and could make Sumo much more interesting although it wasn't his duty.
HesperianC730 at 10:43 AM JST - 19th July

I agree with you Zen Builder 100%, Asa won that match with Tochi... Bad decision from ALL Japs judges...
westurn at 10:52 AM JST - 19th July

Mongolian ! Hand touch ! poor decision by the refs ! Cmon folks this is exactly what the Sumo feds want... controversy ! There are no natural rivals in todays sumo world so the sumo federation and media need something else to focus on. I mean they milked that "Asa-soccer" scandal to the bone, time to move on. Ho hum !
HesperianC730 at 11:05 AM JST - 19th July

Bad Decision!?!?

Watch and freeze at .46-47 seconds. A clear win by Asa...unless you hate the man...like the Japanese officials, judges and all...

2008 Nagoya Basho, Day 5, ASASHORYU V. TOCHINONADA

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnM7k6MPS-w
hashira at 11:18 AM JST - 19th July

It is not as simple as the person touching first losing, although that is usually the case. There is room for the victory to be given to the aggressor in a close decision, or to someone who puts down a hand to avoid injury to his opponent. The decision as announced by Takanohana was that Tochi was given the win due to being the aggressor. I don't think it was a terrible call, and certainly not unprecedented, but to my eyes it deserved a tori-naoshi (rematch)
Zen_Builder at 11:58 AM JST - 19th July

I agree it should have gone to a rematch. Many similar matches did.

Not saying Asa would have won he truly seemed weak om the day.
HesperianC730 at 03:04 PM JST - 19th July

Yes, I agee...Rematch is the best justification...Asa was passive because of ankle injury
PrinceskaNo1 at 08:39 PM JST - 19th July

Asa is out, Kotooshyu is the new kng of sumo!
PrinceskaNo1 at 07:00 PM JST - 21st July

I mean the new king of sumo, sorry for the spelling mistake.