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Asashoryu in four-way tie for lead

Grand champion Asashoryu, back, shoves Estonian wrestler Baruto out of the ring yesterday to move into a tie for the lead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo. PHOTO: AP

Grand champion Asashoryu overpowered Estonian wrestler Baruto yesterday to move into a tie for the lead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Mongolian Asashoryu used a powerful arm thrust to the head of Baruto and then shoved the top maegashira off the raised ring in the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Asashoryu, who is gunning for his 18th Emperor's Cup, improved to 6-1 and is in a four-way tie for the lead with Roho, Ama and Kotomitsuki.

Baruto dropped to 4-2.

Sekiwake Kotomitsuki all but dashed Hakuho's chances of promotion to grand champion when he got hold of the ozeki's belt, spun him around and shoved him out to improve to 6-1.

Mongolian Hakuho dropped to 4-3 and can only end up with 12 wins, one short of the 13 generally required to be considered for promotion.

Kotomitsuki, meanwhile, is right in the thick of things in the hunt for the Emperor's Cup.

Mongolian Ama was handed his first loss when he was swatted down by fifth-ranked maegashira Iwakiyama, who improved to 4-3.

Ama appeared to injure his foot and hobbled off the raised ring with a 6-1 record.

Top maegashira Roho of Russia moved into a tie for the lead when he deployed a powerful arms thrust to send winless No. 4 maegashira Tamakasuga spinning off the dirt surface.

Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu used a two-handed arm throw to send No. 2 maegashira Tokitenku sprawling to the dirt surface.

Kotooshu improved to 5-2 while Tokitenku fell to 3-4.

Tamanoshima, a No. 2 maegashira, overpowered struggling ozeki Kaio to give both wrestlers a 1-6 record.

Ozeki Tochiazuma bounced back from Friday's loss to Baruto when he shoved out komusubi Kokkai to give both wrestlers a record of 3-4.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai shoved out third-ranked maegashira Dejima to improve to 5-2. Dejima was handed his sixth loss against a lone win.
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