Grand champion Asashoryu fought off an assault from his Mongolian compatriot Kyokutenho to maintain his top spot alongside Bulgarian Kotooshu at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kyokutenho, a fifth-ranked maegashira, put up a solid fight against the powerful yokozuna. The two were locked head-to-head at the center of the ring before Asashoryu managed to grab his opponent's belt and throw him over into the dirt.
Asashoryu and Kotooshu are tied in first place with 10 wins and two losses. Chasing the leaders were Wakanosato, Takamisakari and Kaio with 9 wins and 3 losses each.
PHOTO: AFP
Earlier, Kotooshu and Georgian Kokkai, the only wrestlers to have defeated powerful Asashoryu so far in this tournament, faced off. Kotooshu, a komusubi, picked up his seventh straight win after lifting the sixth-ranked maegashira by the rear of his belt and toppling him over the straw ridge. Kokkai was 8-4.
Wakanosato was knocked out from among the front runners by Kotomitsuki (5-7), who quickly dispatched the No. 2 maegashira with a powerful shove out of the ring.
In other major bouts, Kaio defeated Tochiazuma in the battle of the ozekis. Tochiazuma fell to 8-4.
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