Yokozuna Asashoryu stayed perfect five days into the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, quickly dispatching Tochinonada to keep a share of the lead with one low-ranking wrestler on an afternoon that saw three ozeki crash to defeat.
The Mongolian grand champion was one of five rikishi who brought unblemished 4-0 records into yesterday's action at Ryogoku Kokugikan. But losses by ozeki Kaio and Chiyotaikai and maegashira Kakizoe thinned the ranks at the top of the table. Five wrestlers were one back at 4-1.
In the day's final bout, Asashoryu (5-0) had little trouble with Tochinonada (2-3) despite a violent initial collision. Asashoryu quickly twisted the top-ranked maegashira into the dirt with an overarm throw.
The sidelining of Hawaii-born yokozuna Musashimaru with nagging injuries has upped pressure on Asashoryu to win his second title as grand champion.
Kaio, who won the July tournament and can earn promotion to sumo's top rank with 14 wins, fell one behind the leaders (4-1) with an embarrassingly easy loss to crowd favorite Takamisakari (3-2). The ozeki failed to get a grip on the No. 1 maegashira's belt, then tried to grab him by the arm and ended up being pushed out himself.
Chiyotaikai (4-1) was upset by No. 2 maegashira Horkutoriki (2-3), who stood the ozeki up with a thrust to the throat after the face-off and finished him off with a shove to the chest.
Ozeki Tochiazuma (4-1), who has struggled since reaching sumo's second-highest rank and is flirting with demotion, ducked under the slaps of komusubi Toki (2-3) and steered his sideburned opponent out of the ring.
Out-of-form Musoyama fell to 1-4 at the hands of Kyokutenho (2-3).
The Mongolian-born No. 2 maegashira absorbed a charge by the ozeki that pushed him to the ring's edge, then grabbed his opponent's belt and drove him out.
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