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Hakuho to face Asashoryu in title showdown

Mongolian grand champion Hakuho defeated Kotomitsuki yesterday and will face compatriot Asashoryu today in a rare final day showdown for the title at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Hakuho was pushed back a few steps by Kotomitsuki but quickly got a right-hand grip on the belt before throwing the ozeki down to improve to 13-1. Kotomitsuki dropped to 7-7.

In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, grand champion Asashoryu forced out ozeki Kaio (8-6) to improve to 13-1 and set up today's showdown for the Emperor's Cup.

It will be the first time in more than five years that two grand champions will meet on the final day of a tournament to determine a title winner.

Asashoryu, who has won 21 Emperor's Cups, is coming off a two-tournament ban he received last summer.

He has looked strong in the New Year tourney and will be looking to restore his tarnished image with another title.

Hakuho won two titles last year in Asashoryu's absence and will be out to prove he can win even with his main rival in the ring.

In other major bouts, Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu dashed the title hopes of Kakuryu when he used an arm throw to send the No. 8 maegashira down at the edge of the ring.

Kakuryu dropped to 11-3, while Kotooshu improved to 8-6, wrapping up the winning record that he needed to maintain his ozeki status for the next tournament.

No. 4 maegashira Asasekiryu of Mongolia used an unusual tactic to upend compatriot Ama.

Asasekiryu, who improved to 10-4, grabbed the leg of Ama seconds after the faceoff and lifted it up before the sekiwake fell to the dirt surface and his sixth loss against eight wins.

No. 7 maegashira Takekaze improved to 11-3 when he tripped up komusubi Kotoshogiku, who dropped to a record of 8-4 with two defaults.

Top maegashira Kisenosato overpowered sekiwake Aminishiki to improve to 9-5. Aminishiki fell to 5-9.
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