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Mongolians dominate first days of spring tournament

Yokozuna Asashoryu, right, pushes maegashira Kakuryu out of the ring to win the bout on the second day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka, Japan, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Grand champions Hakuho and Asashoryu of Mongolia dominated the sumo ring yesterday, defeating their challengers to remain undefeated and in the lead of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

Defending title holder Hakuho beat rising star Kakuryu, a top maegashira, with a deft throw at ring's edge to make his record 3-0.

Altogether, 10 wrestlers made it through the third day without a loss.

Asashoryu, trying to make a comeback after two forced absences for bad behavior and a last-day loss to Hakuho in January, overwhelmed komusubi Aminishiki, twisting him down and forcing him all the way off the ring.

Asashoryu, once seemingly unbeatable, is still stinging from the competition ban that kept him from fighting at the end of last year, and is having trouble matching the rise of compatriot Hakuho, who is perhaps equally talented and definitely better liked by the fans.

Chiyotaikai, who needs eight wins this tournament to keep his rank as ozeki, blasted out at the face-off, but lost his balance and fell to the ground in his bout against komusubi Kisenosato. Both wrestlers are 2-1.

Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu bashed No. 2 maegashira Miyabiyama with a merciless series of thrusts and slaps, and earned his second win against one loss.
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