Asashoryu tied for lead at Nagoya tournament

Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, back, throws opponent Kotoshogiku to the ring to win their bout in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, central Japan, yesterday. PHOTO: AP/KYODO NEWS

Grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia dispatched Kotoshogiku yesterday to remain tied for the lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Fighting in the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Asashoryu earned his fourth win after using an arm throw to send the winless top maegashira sprawling to the dirt surface.

Ozeki wrestlers Tochiazuma, Chiyotaikai, and rank-and-filer Tochinohana also stand at 4-0.

Asashoryu is the only grand champion competing in sumo. He was forced to sit out the summer tournament after injuring his elbow on the second day.

In other major bouts, Mongolian Hakuho, who is gunning for promotion to grand champion, posted a hard-fought win over Russian Roho to improve to 3-1.

Hakuho, who lost on the opening day, got both hands on the belt of Roho and lifted the third-ranked maegashira over the straw ridge to stay one win off the pace. Roho dropped to 2-2.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai remained undefeated when he used his trademark arm thrusts to upend Mongolian Kyokutenho.

After forcing winless No. 2 Kyokutenho back at the faceoff with a series of shoves to the upper body, Chiyotaikai hauled his opponent down to preserve his perfect record.

Tochiazuma, who needs a winning record in this tournament to maintain his ozeki status, barely broke a sweat when he forced third-ranked maegashira Kakizoe (1-3) out in a matter of seconds to stay tied for the lead at 4-0.

Struggling ozeki Kotooshu of Bulgaria deployed a series of thrusts to the upper body to send Mongolian Kyokushuzan spinning over the edge.

Kotooshu improved to 2-2 while top maegashira Kyokushuzan fell to 0-4.

Ozeki Kaio bounced back from Tuesday's loss to Roho when he spun Miyabiyama around at the edge and shoved the sekiwake out to give both wrestlers a record of 2-2.

Russian Hakurozan took advantage of Baruto's inexperience to improve to 2-2.

Hakurozan, a No. 2 maegashira, shifted to his side after absorbing a blow at the faceoff and then sat back and watched as Estonian Baruto went tumbling to the dirt surface. Fourth-ranked Baruto was handed his first loss.

Sekiwake Kotomitsuki came charging out of the blocks and overwhelmed komusubi Kisenosato to notch his second win against a pair of losses. Kisenosato fell to 1-3.